Plant pest surveillance is an important component of the biosecurity system, allowing early detection of exotic pests, reduction in the spread of pests, improved pest management, and identification of high-risk pathways and high-risk areas to focus future surveillance efforts. Quality surveillance data is vitally important to maintain market access for produce, both interstate and overseas.

iMapPESTS is a national program of research, development, and extension designed to put actionable information into the hands of Australia’s primary producers to enhance on-farm pest management decision-making.

Over a six-year period (2017-2023), iMapPESTS will lay the foundations for a national cross-industry surveillance system that can monitor and report the presence of airborne pests and diseases affecting major agricultural sectors across the country, including grains, cotton, sugar, horticulture, wine, forestry, and emerging industries. This will be achieved through a range of surveillance, diagnostics, and engagement and adoption activities.

Once established, the system could enhance pest management decision-making by providing timely information on high-priority, cross-sectoral pest and disease abundance and spread. Such information could be used by industry stakeholders to guide the direction or intensity of scouting efforts and pest control actions. The system could also facilitate a coordinated response to biosecurity efforts during exotic pest and disease incursions, including use in delimiting surveys and proof-of-freedom claims.