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Biosecurity threats from a number of exotic pests and pathogens are a constant threat to crop production and markets for Australian grain. The GRDC continues to protect the interests of the Australian grains industry and the Commonwealth priority of safeguarding Australia by investing in the biosecurity of the grains industry through the following investment strategies:
- Biosecurity Strategy 1: Collate biosecurity intelligence to identify and prioritise biosecurity threats to the Australian grains industry.
- Biosecurity Strategy 2: Identify and prioritise gaps in knowledge, preparedness and response capability for the identified threats (preparedness includes surveillance capacity, diagnostic capability, pre-emptive breeding, etc)
- Biosecurity Strategy 3: Implement R&D programs that deliver knowledge, tools and capability to lessen the risks of incursion and loss
Where can I get more information?
- Exotic Pest Fact Sheet
- Exotic Pest identification - PaDIL - Pests and Diseases Image Library
- ‘Rust diseases of grain crops – What can Australian travellers do?
- AQIS website brochure ‘What Can't I Take Into Australia?’
- Department of Agriculture and Food WA website brochure ‘ Australian Grains Industry - Farm Biosecurity Plan
Exotic Plant pest Hotline 1800 084 881
Useful Biosecurity Links
- AUSBIOSEC
- Biosecurity Australia
- Australian Quarantine Inspection Service
- Plant Health Australia
- CRC National Plant Biosecurity
- University of Sydney – Plant Breeding Institute Cereal Rust Laboratory
- Farm Biosecurity
Farm Biosecurity is designed to help you secure your property against pests and disease. This site gives you the tools to assess the current risks of your farm and to help you think about how you could reduce the risks - and it doesn't have to mean a lot of time or money.
The GRDC invests in biosecurity research with the following organisations:
- Plant Health Australia (PHA) is responsible for developing a nationally coordinated plant health preparedness and prevention system for exotic and endemic plant pests and diseases. The GRDC also invests in relevant and targeted research programs of PHA via the CRC for National Plant Biosecurity.
- CRC for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) is the central coordinating body for plant biosecurity research across all Australian states and territories. The Centre was established in recognition of the need to strengthen the plant biosecurity scientific capacity of Australia, and commenced operations in November 2005. The GRDC is a core participant in the CRCNPB. The key programs of the CRC focus on preparedness and prevention, diagnostics, surveillance, impact management, and delivery and adoption. There is also a strong education and training component. The GRDC currently invests in selected grains industry projects with the CRC, notably in the diagnostics and preparedness and prevention programs
- Australian Cereal Rust Control Program - A number of GRDC supported projects and initiatives include a strong national and/or international biosecurity component. As an example, the Australian Cereal Rust Control Program (ACRCP) is a partnership between the GRDC, the University of Sydney, CSIRO and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT).
The ACRCP will remain a vital element in the Australian grains industry’s ability to maintain effective genetic protection against cereal rusts. Incursions of new pathotypes of these diseases can be expected to increase in frequency as they have in recent years, undoubtedly in response to expanding world trade and international travel. A number of the principal objectives of the ACRCP are focussed on biosecurity, but two are of particular note:
The University of Sydney provides a continuous surveillance service to the grains industry which monitors the occurrence and frequency of pathotypes of cereal rusts. This service provides early warnings to the farming community of the development or incursion of new virulent pathotypes and recommends effective management responses.
Through its highly developed local expertise and strong international linkages, the ACRCP is continually developing improved germplasm for Australian cereal breeders to combat current and anticipated rust threats.
