Dr Stephen Quarrell1, Harsh Garg1

1Plant Health Australia, Deakin, Australia

Biography:

Biography to come.

Abstract:

The expansion of global trade and travel has contributed to the spread of pests, including invertebrates, across borders, posing a significant threat to Australia’s biosecurity. To effectively survey, detect and identify exotic invertebrates, and strengthen Australia’s preparedness for emergency plant pest responses, it is essential to have endorsed national diagnostic protocols (NDPs) and national surveillance protocols (NSPs).

NDPs support accurate and consistent detection and identification of target pests and undergo testing under Australian conditions to ensure they perform in our unique environment. NSPs provide the first point of reference for developing a surveillance plan and include technical reference guides for conducting surveillance on a specific plant pest or group of plant pests. NDPs and NSPs undergo multiple review stages involving subject matter experts and national sub-committees before they are endorsed for use in Australia. Plant Health Australia (PHA) coordinates the entire process with funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Several NDPs and NSPs for invertebrate plant pests (e.g., Pine wood nematode NDP51 and Khapra beetle NSP4), have been endorsed, with several more draft protocols currently being advanced for endorsement.

This presentation will outline the approaches and processes in the NDP and NSP development framework, including PHA’s role in facilitating this process. It will also provide an overview of the current status of endorsed and draft NDPs and NSPs for invertebrate pests, with a focus on those currently prioritized for advancement. Additional information on future avenues for review and development of these protocols will be provided.