Calls grow for new plant biosecurity model

Forty-six submissions were received in response to the Australian Farm Institute's April discussion paper on the future of sustainable and nationally coordinated biosecurity research.

According to the Plant Biosecurity Cooperation Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (Plant Biosecurity CRC), the clear consensus taken from government, research and industry stakeholder submissions was that the biosecurity risk posed to Australia’s plant industries and environment is increasing.

The issue facing this is the fact the Plant Biosecurity CRC is scheduled to be wound up in mid-2018.

The discussion paper called for the establishment of a new research corporation to secure the existing research, development and extension work (RD&E).

The Plant Biosecurity CRC has 27 participants, representing Australian Federal and state governments, research organisations and universities, and the grains and horticulture industries.

Independent analysis of submissions showed stakeholders were universally supportive of the paper’s conclusions on the need for national coordination, long-term shared funding and leadership across the system.

This included a desire for stronger leadership and coordination within and between current organisations and structures in order to achieve greater efficiency and innovation in plant biosecurity research.

Last week, those participants met to discuss progress on more than 100 active plant biosecurity research projects.

The meeting coincided with the introduction of the new Biosecurity Act 2015 which was regarded as the biggest overhaul to biosecurity legislation in more than a century.

It replaced the Quarantine Act 1908.

The new legislation is designed to be easier to read and understand, and reduces duplication and regulatory impacts.

Independent Plant Biosecurity CRC board chairman Dr Martin Barlass said there is a realisation the clock is ticking in terms of implementing research outcomes.

“With the majority of them finishing over the coming 24 months, delivering the results to the greatest effect is the main game," Dr Barlass said.  

"Whether the research outputs are used directly by growers, policy-makers or biosecurity professionals, this is all about benefits to Australian agriculture and the environment.

“It’s not enough to have a great report if it sits on a shelf and no one knows it’s there.

“We have taken delivery to the next level - every Plant Biosecurity CRC project has not only been reviewed by an end-user panel, they also have a dedicated end-user advocate and an individual delivery plan, plus we are talking directly to governments and industry with packages of results."

Since 2012, the Plant Biosecurity CRC has coordinated nearly 150 collaborative research projects.

Plant Biosecurity CRC CEO Dr Michael Robinson said the committee was briefed on the developing plans to either transition to a new entity or wind-up the organisation when funding ceases in 2018.

“Over the next two years, and as more research projects are completed, the CRC Participants will have an increasingly important role,” Mr Robinson said.

He said it made sense for research to take a cross-sectoral approach to give the most benefit to multiple industries.  

“Many projects have a focus on individual crops but the intention is that as far as possible they are applicable across sectors,” Dr Robinson said.

“While we may be looking at surveillance of wheat crops, for instance, the tools and techniques developed may also be applied to horticulture, or protecting the environment."

Submissions identified a need for clarity around current cross-sectoral plant biosecurity RD&E, and a need for more detail around the size and scale of any proposed new model.

Suggestions included remodelling existing structures such as Plant Health Australia or the Plant Biosecurity CRC, and the need to prioritise extension and international collaboration.

The Smart Biosecurity Science project, which commissioned the discussion paper, will make a recommendation to the Australian Government later this year.

“The only way that Australian agriculture can meet its potential is to maintain and improve our world class biosecurity system, supported by coordinated and well-resourced research, development and extension,” Dr Robinson said.