International Day of Plant Health – Plant biosecurity for food security
By Laura Thomas
A global spotlight will be on food security protection during International Day of Plant Health next week.
Sanctioned by the United Nations, the worldwide observance is held on 12 May, putting focus on plant health and its role in ending hunger, reducing poverty, protecting biodiversity and boosting economic development.
This year’s theme – plant biosecurity for food security – will further recognise the critical role biosecurity plays in protecting crops from pest and disease and creating a world free from hunger.
“For Australia, a major agricultural producer and exporter, effective plant biosecurity is essential to protecting our food supply and valuable agriculture industry, maintaining market access for growers and safeguarding the natural environment,” Plant Health Australia said via its website.
“Australia’s strong trade links, combined with increasing global movement of goods and people, mean preventing exotic pests and diseases before they establish remains a cornerstone of the national biosecurity system.
“Protecting plant health relies on shared responsibility for shared benefits.”
Australian Olive Association Chief Executive Michal Southan said a healthy tree was the foundation of a thriving Australian olive industry.
“Maintaining good soil health and tree nutrition, and strong on-farm biosecurity practices such as ongoing pest and disease monitoring, are all key ingredients for healthy trees and a productive grove,” he said.
For Australian agriculture, Xylella is the highest priority pest threat and biosecurity risk, due to its potential to cause significant disease to a wide variety of plants including native and cropping varieties, such as olive trees.
An outbreak on home soil would be impossible to eradicate and devastate the agricultural sector.
“The AOA has continued its involvement in national planning and preparedness, as efforts to safeguard our agriculture sector continue” Mr Southan said.
“Thankfully, Australia remains Xylella-free, but its spread to China and parts of Europe provides a cautionary tale that as an industry, we can’t afford to become complacent.
“We all have an important role to play in strong national biosecurity and safeguarding the future of Australian olives and agriculture.”
More information
Follow the link for more information and International Day of Plant Health resources.
As the national peak industry body representing Australian olive growers, the AOA is committed to ongoing industry education.
Visit the AOA website and tap into the wealth of industry knowledge and best practice information available to help achieve optimum plant health in your grove.
For more detail on olive crop plant protection, consult the Olive IPDM Best Practice Manual by Robert Spooner-Hart and Len Tesoriero, available now on the AOA website.
Sources:
www.planthealthaustralia.com.au
www.fao.org/plant-health-day/en
https://australianolives.com.au/