The ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity has been established to train a new generation of researchers and leaders to build new capabilities for plant biosecurity.

Our Centre’s activities and outcomes will drive growth, productivity, and competitiveness in plant biosecurity dependent industries. They will also catalyse some of the transformational change required in the plant biosecurity sector – a sector that underpins the nation’s agriculture, export and food manufacturing sectors.

A “business-as-usual” approach risks exposing our environment, economy, and way of life to catastrophic failures [8].

We will contribute to the required transformational change by delivering on three aims which strategically translate into our three Training Programs. These will enable a highly skilled workforce with the abilities to unlock innovation to future-proof Australia’s multi-billion dollar plant biosecurity sector.

The Centre’s Aims

Delivering on these Aims will unlock significant positive outcomes that will catalyse transformational change for Australia’s plant biosecurity. These outcomes will support the agricultural sector’s aim to grow to over $100 billion a year, while maintaining barrier-free market access for many of our valued export commodities. It will also protect our unique environment which is essential for our tourism industry, which contributes $60 billion to Australia’s GDP and employs 666,000 Australians making up 5 per cent of Australia’s workforce [5, 9].

Even if our Centre were to prevent only a single major incursion like Xylella bacterial disease, it would save the Australian economy an estimated $2.8 billion alone.

Our Training Programs

Program 1: Next Generation Plant Biosecurity Training

In Program 1, we’ll deliver world-class training to generate a cohesive plant biosecurity cohort that is agile, communicative, economically savvy, and socially aware.

Our students will undertake a tailored program co-designed with the Centre’s partner organisations including bespoke mentoring and training opportunities. They will leave our Centre as part of a cohort that facilitates lifelong connectivity and networking across the sector.

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Program 2: Transformative Plant Biosecurity Research

In Program 2, we will catalyse step-change innovation in the plant biosecurity sector via cutting-edge research. This research is enabled by access to our state-of-the art facilities and globally recognised expertise available with our university and industry partner organisations.

This Program will create solutions for novel surveillance and diagnostics approaches that enable simpler, quicker and earlier detection of pests, pathogens and weeds (Program 2, Project 1). We will integrate the plethora of big-data sets to make smart data driven decisions possible (Program 2, Project 2). We will ensure that our solutions are accepted across the sector and the public by researching the best adoption practices (Program 2, Project 3).

This will be achieved via integrated and collaborative PhD projects that are co-designed with our industry partner organisations.

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Program 3: Authentic Industry Engagement

We will integrate all research projects with industry placements to provide graduates with immediate experience working on firsthand plant biosecurity sector needs. This approach, coupled with entrepreneurship training, will develop new innovators with a mindset for research translation and industry transformation.

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Our students will have opportunities to engage with industry partners and communities on projects to improve Australia’s plant biosecurity, protecting our multi-billion dollar industries and natural ecosystems.

References

1. Craik, W., et al., Priorities for Australia’s biosecurity system: An independent review of the capacity of the national biosecurity system and its underpinning Intergovernmental Agreement. 2017, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources: Canberra.
   2. Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra.
   3. Hafi, A., et al., Protecting Australia’s horticultural industries from disease: The impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on Australian horticulture and the environment. 2021, ABARES: Canberra.
   4. Sánchez, B., et al. Estimating the economic, social and environmental impacts of EU priority pests. in 2nd European conference on Xylella fastidiosa. 2019
   5. National Plant Biosecurity Strategy 2021-2031. Plant Health Australia: Canberra.
   6. National Biosecurity Strategy. 2022, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Canberra.
   7. Vleeshouwers, V.G., et al., Molec. Plant-Microbe Interact., 2014. 27(196-206).
   8. Australia’s Biosecurity Future: Unlocking the next decade of resilience 2020-2030. CSIRO: Melbourne.
   9. Ecker, S., Evaluation of the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions Balanced Researcher Program. 2021.
   11. Wilkinson, M.D., et al., Scientific Data, 2016. 3(1): p. 160018.
   12. McLeod, R., Annual Costs of Weeds in Australia. 2018, Centre for Invasive Species Solutions: Canberra.
   13. Hafi, A., et al., The Value of Australia’s Biosecurity System at the Farm Gate. An Analysis of Avoided Trade and On-farm Impacts. 2015, ABARES: Canberra, Australia.
   14. The economic contribution of the Sugarcane Industry to Queensland and its regional communities. 2019, Queensland Economic Advocacy Solutions.
   15. Cresswell, I., et al., Australia state of the environment. 2021, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra.
   16. Hogan, L., et al., Australia’s biosecurity market access and agricultural exports. 2021, ABARES Research Report 21.07: Canberra