National Biosecurity and Sustainable Plant Production Program

This project will enhance the preparedness and resilience of the Australian nursery industry to plant protection and plant biosecurity impacts, climate change influences, sustainable plant production, and natural resource access and use. The project will inform and guide levy payers on the implementation, integration and adoption of R&D outputs supporting advanced plant production technical elements and systems to deliver profitable, sustainable, and high health plant production within a credible business improvement system. A significant resource to achieve this aim is through the Australian Plant Production Standard that incorporates best management practice, environmental and natural resource management, plant protection and biosecurity programs as key platforms. This project also aims to ensure that nursery production across Australia remains free of exotic pests and diseases through grower based plant protection and biosecurity procedures and systems, national biosecurity preparedness, engagement and participation underpinned by the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (custodian, Plant Health Australia). Furthermore, industry requires grower-focused industry specific plant protection, biosecurity and sustainable plant production communication packages together with access to appropriate plant protection products (via a pesticide Minor Use Permit program) to address endemic and emerging pest threats with modern, least-impact active ingredients.