Avocado biosecurity project – working to address biosecurity risks

The Hort Innovation biosecurity project AV21002 – Avocado Industry Biosecurity Strategy 2022-2026 – commenced in July 2022 and continues to investigate and develop resources to protect and secure the Australian avocado industry’s biosecurity future.

Managed by Avocados Australia (AAL), the project considers both current and future biosecurity risks to Australian avocado growers. The five-year project aims to:

• Improve avocado industry biosecurity resilience through the development and delivery of foundational exotic pest preparedness documents supported by exotic pest incursion and response exercises,
• Better understand the risk posed to the avocado industry from exotic pests by identifying current gaps in pest risk assessments,
• Provide pathway analyses and diagnostic capability,
• Increase the uptake of appropriate on-farm biosecurity practices by proposing reasonable and practical ways to address biosecurity risk.

John Tyas, Avocados Australia’s (AAL’s) CEO, acts as the key representative of Australian avocado growers under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD). He regularly sees the impact of exotic pest incursions on Australian horticultural industries and growers.  As a result, he is well aware of the importance of biosecurity to address prevention, preparedness, response and recovery when it comes to significant regionalised endemic pests and exotic pests that are not yet known to occur in Australia.

“The cost to all growers as a result of new exotic pest incursions, their management and impacts on export markets is foremost on our minds.  Being prepared and having policies and procedures in place beforehand greatly reduces possible future impact and cost,” John said.

So far, the project has ensured that:

• All Avocados Australia staff and Directors have been trained in key aspects of biosecurity response and decision-making processes under Australia’s EPPRD to better support growers during any biosecurity incident.
• A Biosecurity Incident Standard Operating Procedure has been developed to confirm that decision making follows a specified process and allocates roles and responsibilities to key decision makers.
• Two staff members have been trained to support grower Industry Liaison in the event of a biosecurity emergency or incident.
• An up-to-date review of serious avocado pest threats has been completed, resulting in the development of twenty-one detailed Pest Pathway Analysis reports.
• Work continues to better understand the risks posed to the avocado industry from exotic pests by identifying and addressing current gaps in pest risk assessments, pest prioritisation, national diagnostic protocols, surveillance, exotic pest management and impact on trade.
• An economic impact assessment has been completed to highlight the consequences to industry should an incursion occur using two exotic pests as an example.
• Avocado industry stakeholders have been consulted through a series of workshops to consider on-farm biosecurity preparedness options, issues, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Levels of adoption of recommended on-farm biosecurity prevention practices employed by avocado growers have been assessed and benchmarked.
• Initiatives are underway to identify barriers to adoption of on-farm biosecurity measures, with feedback on opportunities for improvement and information gaps noted that will support future strategies.
• Growers have been kept informed on project progress through Avocados Australia’s communication channels including in Talking Avocados Magazine, Guacamole enewsletter articles, and industry updates.

A face-to-face meeting with project collaborators was held at the AAL office at Rocklea on 16 June to discuss and finalise the project’s Year 4 annual plan to achieve project deliverables and outcomes.  Highlights for Year 4 will include the development of an industry biosecurity strategy to support and guide AAL on promotion of on-farm biosecurity initiatives for growers and consolidate previous project work to support a revised Avocado Biosecurity Plan produced by Plant Health Australia.

Contact:

For more information about the project contact Grant Telford, email biosecurity@avocado.org.au.

Acknowledgement

The Avocado Industry Biosecurity Strategy 2022 – 2026 (AV21002) project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the Avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

This article appears as part of the 1 August 2025 edition of Guacamole, AAL’s enewsletter.

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