Australia and New Zealand have entered into a new collaboration to strengthen plant biosecurity research. The Australian Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) will join forces with Better Border Biosecurity, New Zealand (B3 NZ) through a memorandum of understanding. “We are both committed to working together to deliver plant biosecurity research of mutual benefit to both […]
Wine Australia and Hort Innovation have teamed up through the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) to safeguard the nation against a devastating bacteria that could cripple the country’s multi-billion dollar wine and horticultural sectors. Xylella fastidiosa is an exotic bacterium that prevents a plant from feeding by impeding the movement of rising sap. While Australia […]
The latest go-to guide to how Australia is being protected against plant pests and diseases reveals the tremendous effort being made across the country to sustain our plant industries, unique ecosystems and standards of living. The tenth edition of the National Plant Biosecurity Status Report was released this week by Plant Health Australia (PHA), the […]
The Hort Innovation Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Brand as the Rural Research and Development Corporation’s new Chief Executive Officer. Mr Brand will take office in early September 2018. Mr Brand brings a wealth of experience, most recently from his previous role as the long-term CEO of NSW Farmers, Australia’s largest […]
Biosecurity stakeholders from across Australia and New Zealand joined forces in Canberra to share ideas about innovative technologies and approaches to enhance each countries’ biosecurity system on 8 March 2018. Head of biosecurity at the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Lyn O’Connell, said the inaugural Biosecurity Innovation Exchange was an opportunity for collaboration between […]
Since November 2017, a total of 23 concepts have been submitted to PBRI for consideration. Approximated one-third of these have moved to the next stage, where an RDC has taken the lead on the project development and co-investing RDCs have been identified. Most of the remaining concept leads have received advice to re-work or to […]
On February 15 a Xylella workshop was convened by DAWR to consider the priority actions identified at the International Symposium on Xylella fastidiosa held in Brisbane in May 2017. The workshop involved planning for the implementation of a national approach to further enhance Australia’s capacity to prevent Xylella entering the country and to prepare for a response. Interested Industry representatives […]
A workshop to assess gaps and cross-sectoral RD&E opportunities in the collective PBRI project inventory (264 projects) was held on 30 January in Canberra. Biosecurity R&D program managers or their equivalent from each RDC, DAWR and PHA were invited to participate in this exercise. Each PBRI member presented their organisation’s perspective on R&D gaps, identifying […]
Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus (GPGV) was recently detected in Australia and has been reported in many international wine regions in Europe, the US, Canada and China. As well as Pinot Gris, it can infect a number of other wine and table grape varieties, including Pinot Noir, Traminer, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. […]
The detection of the invasive insect, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) at a warehouse in western Sydney has triggered a biosecurity response by NSW DPI in collaboration with Greater Sydney Local Land Services and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. The Director of Plant Biosecurity and Product Integrity at NSW Department of Primary Industries, Dr […]