The world is becoming globalised with greater international trade and tourism movements of mail, cargo and machinery, all increasing exponentially the potential for plant pests to enter Australia. The Australian government through the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) maintains a low risk / conservative approach to quarantine, based on sound science and policy and compliance with relevant international agreements.

Despite this quarantine system, increasingly we have seen serious pest incursions resulting that could have a devastating impact on Australian plant industries. It is inevitable that serious pest incursions will continue to occur in the plant sector, via either natural means or human actions, and horticulture needs to ensure that its response capabilities can deal with these situations when they arise.

Biosecurity has emerged as a major global, national, regional on-farm issue.  Pest incursions directly threaten the economic viability of Australia’s plant industries that have a farm gate value of around $18 billion and contribute some $14 billion to export.  At risk is the Australian horticultural industry, valued at $7 billion, and its associated domestic and international trade. 

The HAL Biosecurity Portfolio seeks to protest the viability of horticultural industries by implementing measures to minimize the risk of serious pests becoming established in Australia and minimising the impact should incursions occur.