EVERY pair of growers' eyes is effectively a surveillance camera for pests and diseases.
No group knows their properties and crops better than those working within them.
But if a disease is discovered on farm, the battle is already half lost. Stopping these rogue pests and diseases before they get there is the ideal scenario.
The past 12 months have shown just how fragile our biosecurity system is: Panama disease, cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), little cherry virus, live nematodes in ginger, vegetable leafminer- these are just some that come to mind.
The poor old Northern Territory seems to be copping it from all sides, with banana freckle and more recently the announcement of myrtle rust on the Tiwi Islands added to their woes.
The outbreak of any disease or discovery of a new pest makes an industry sit up and ponder exactly how secure our systems are.
Industry groups do all they can to control outbreaks, usually backed by government bodies and funding.
But when talking to growers, it doesn't take much for them to share hearsay about the origins of these diseases and pests.
Back the mid 2000s, allegations were being flung left and right about how the dreaded citrus canker disease came to appear in Queensland, with theories it was brought in on illegal budwood from China.
CGMMV is another current area ripe for rumour. It's widely assumed and believed that it has entered the country through a batch of seed imported by a major agriculture business.
But growers pull up short of naming names in terms of companies, for fear of isolation or retribution.
Pinning blame once something is here is almost beside the point; dealing with it takes focus.
Some of the new overseas markets being courted via Free Trade Agreements depend very heavily on Australia's biosecurity status.
The need for maintained and improved pest and disease management was recognised within the recent Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
It contained a few good signs, including a $200 million commitment to improve biosecurity surveillance and analysis nationally, with a particular emphasis on northern Australia.
In line with this, it is pleasing to see Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) make addressing fruit fly as one of its current four foundations for its Pool 2 funding.
Those within horticulture seem to recognise the importance of plant biosecurity.
It may be worthwhile putting effort into conveying that message to other sectors.
After all, the more industries, the more eyes, the more surveillance.