SPHDS – leading the nation’s diagnosis of plant pests
In a world where the challenges from plant pests are continually changing, the ability to rapidly, robustly and cost-effectively identify a plant pest is more important than ever. Charged with making sure that Australia can meet these challenges, the Sub-Committee on Plant Health Diagnostics Standards (SPHDS) is improving Australia’s diagnostic capabilities by leading the national effort into developing sustainable, effective and high quality diagnostics.
A sub-committee formed under Australia’s Plant Health Committee (PHC), SPHDS is made up of representatives from state and federal agricultural agencies as well as other organisations that maintain an interest in plant pest diagnostics – such as the CRCNPB and Plant Health Australia. By bringing together all of these organisations, SPHDS uses the nation’s best and brightest plant diagnosticians to tackle plant pest diagnostic problems facing Australia.
Current chair of SPHDS and the Program Leader for the CRCNPB’s Impact Management Program, Ms Jane Moran, says that ‘SPHDS is an integral part of our national defence against plant pests. Without the ability to make rapid, robust and effective diagnoses, our ability to combat a potentially devastating incursion is greatly reduced.’
In order to undertake this task, SPHDS is currently divided into four working groups – the Diagnostics Standards Working Group, the Accreditation, Expertise and Resources Working Group, the Training Working Group and the National Diagnostic Strategy Working Group. Overarching these is the Coodinator’s Group that sets the direction and priorities for the three working groups and has the overall responsibility of providing governance of SPHDS. Under this structure, SPHDS ensures that it covers all areas affecting the national diagnostic capability, particularly the areas that allow for the development of new national diagnostic protocols.
The process for approving a national diagnostic protocol is very specific and requires considerable time and resources. Once a particular diagnostic protocol has been identified as a priority by SPHDS, the sub-committee calls for scholarship applications for travel to an overseas centre of excellence to develop the protocol. SPHDS then selects suitable applicants who travel to these international laboratories and then draft a protocol that adheres to strict standards for consideration by SPHDS. SPHDS then arranges for an independent laboratory to assess the test protocols to see if the methods are complete and easy to follow. SPHDS also arranges for the protocol to be peer reviewed by an expert in the field. The results of these activities are then assessed by SPHDS and any appropriate changes are made. Once all of these stages have been successfully completed, the diagnostic protocol is submitted to PHC for endorsement as the national standard.
Ms Moran explains that the process for recommending a diagnostic protocol for endorsement by PHC is intentionally rigorous ‘to provide confidence for decision makers in the accuracy of a diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis allows state and federal agencies to rapidly rollout contingency plans in the case on an incursion.’
The CRCNPB works closely with SPHDS to ensure our advances in diagnostic techniques and technology are on the frontline in the fight against plant pest threats. For example, our enhanced diagnostic for Karnal bunt (CRC20004: Karnal Bunt) is currently going through the SPHDS approval process, after undertaking successful international trials during the course of the project. Once approved and endorsed, the diagnostic will become the national standard in identifying this damaging pest of grain.
Ms Moran highlights the Plant Biosecurity Toolbox (PBT), hosted on the PaDIL website, as one of the CRCNPB’s most important contributions to the national diagnostic capability.
‘The PBT is really the first dedicated resource in Australia that takes diagnostic data off laboratory shelves and puts it into a forum that is usable, accessible and invaluable to plant diagnosticians. It has changed the way that SPHDS operates as well, as all new protocols are uploaded to the PBT.’
The CRCNPB is helping in the fight against plant pests by building a strong and productive relationship with SPHDS. With Diagnostics Program Leader Dr Deb Hailstones as our SPHDS representative, and Ms Moran as the Chair, our continued collaboration means our research will help ensure that SPHDS can continue to provide Australia an effective defence from plant pests through rapid, robust and cost-effective diagnostics.
Content supplied by: Cain Roberts and Jane Moran
