Boosting diagnostic capacity for plant production industries (ST19017)

What was it all about?

The overarching objective of this project was to ensure Australia’s biosecurity services maintain a state of the art and fit-for-purpose diagnostics regime and in-field management capability. 

Led by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) as principal grantee, a consortium of research and development corporations, industry bodies and government pursued a range of research, capacity building and extension projects aimed at:

• Enhanced capacity (Building diagnostic testing skills and capability)
• Enhanced diagnostic tests (Increasing options for rapid detection of new biosecurity threats)
• Enhanced operations (Training and in-field testing with new diagnostics techniques)

Activity was focused on high-priority plant pests (HPPPs) as identified by Australia’s Plant Health Committee, along with established or exotic pests of significant economic importance.

The development of new, rapid diagnostic tests for the presence of these pests was supported by extension activities that provided awareness training to industry and boosted laboratory preparedness for new testing procedures. 

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View the final report here.