This project will improve preparedness of Australia's grain industry for incursions of Emergency Plant Pests (EPPs) by developing a national surveillance plan to support market access and providing contingency plans for threats to Australia's grains industry.

What is the biosecurity problem?

At present, there is no national surveillance plan for Australia's grain industries and therefore no national coordination of surveillance data to support market access and provide effective early detection mechanisms for EPPs. For the grain industry to maintain and expand its markets, and prevent or minimise the impact of incursions of EPPs, a national surveillance plan is required. Contingency plans are also needed for all EPP threats to ensure responses to future incursions are cost-effective and efficient. The project will address both these biosecurity problems.

The main outputs of this project are to:

• develop a cost-effective national surveillance plan for the high priority EPPs to the grains industry
• develop 15 specific EPP contingency plans, and 
• raise biosecurity awareness in the grains industry.

Who will be the end-users of this research?

Australia's grain industry will use the results. Freedom from many emergency plant pests and diseases allows our grain markets to remain competitive, sustainable and prosperous. With a national surveillance strategy in place, the grains industry can respond quickly to potential market restrictions and ensure the continued export of grain.