Airport Forensics is a joint project with Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). This project will define the plant pathogen incursion risk posed by people returning from overseas and interstate travel. This will be achieved through the development of technically sound sample/survey methodologies.

The project will initially focus on cereal rusts. An assessment of the current level of human mediated rust entries into Australia will be determined through the sampling of travellers who have been known to have visited grain production regions overseas. Pathogen types examined will include air-borne pathogens such as rusts and powdery mildews, and soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium wilt.

The project also aims to increase the awareness and education of both international and domestic travellers about the risks of spreading plant pathogens on hair, clothing and footwear if they are not cleaned appropriately.

What is the biosecurity problem?

There is a need to collect data that will support and emphasise the current communication activities aimed at ensuring individuals are not carrying quarantinable plant pathogens on their clothing, hair or footwear when returning from overseas travel. There is also a need to further promote the shared responsibility of all in protecting our border.

Researchers, growers and Australian travellers in general often visit farms or other related enterprises while overseas on holidays or business. These individuals represent an undefined risk for inadvertently introducing exotic plant pathogens into Australia if appropriate biosecurity measures are not followed. Currently the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) screens for ‘macro' prohibited quarantine material on travellers' belongings at Australian international airports. However, it is not possible for inspectors to inspect for the ‘micro' material (plant pathogens) that may be entering Australia on passengers. This responsibility lies with the incoming passengers who need to be educated on this matter through various forms of communication.

The main outputs of this project are to:

• develop a kit and a process to capture information on the risk of pathogens entering Australia via international travellers
• determine if novel mass spectrometry can be used to identify fungal spores
• deliver valuable data that highlights the plant pathogen risk posed by passengers entering Australia without ensuring footwear, clothing and hair is appropriately cleaned
• implement molecular diagnostic assays polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR for target pathogens and determine sampling methods to be used when checking passengers clothing and footwear, and
• develop specific forensic kits and methods to be used for screening passengers.
   

Who will be the end-users of this research?

• The data from this project will be utilised by the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity, AQIS, GRDC, Plant Health Australia and other industry bodies that actively communicate the messages of quarantine shared responsibility and on-farm hygiene.
• All agricultural based industries due to the reduced risk of an introduction of an Emergency Plant Pest.
• Border regulation agencies and agencies supporting overseas and domestic travel.

Photo caption: Forensic kit provided to travellers to test for fungal spores on clothing.

Photo acknowledgement: The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
 

This is a joint research project with Grains Research and Development Corporation.