23 January 2024

International speakers confirmed for Biosecurity Symposium

Some of the world’s leading experts on citrus biosecurity will travel to the Sunshine Coast for Citrus Australia’s inaugural Biosecurity Symposium.

Held in conjunction with the Australian Citrus Congress on 5 March, the Symposium’s speaker program will have a core focus on Huanglongbing (HLB) disease.

International speakers will provide insights on the impact HLB has had on their industries, with delegates to gain a better understanding of how a detection of this disease would be managed in Australia.

US-based Etienne Rabe will share updates on the current state of HLB in North America, primarily in relation to California.

Rabe is the Vice President – Agronomy at Wonderful Citrus, one of North America’s leading grower-packer-marketers of fresh citrus.

He will highlight the measures the Californian industry is undertaking to delay HLB from taking a foothold in commercial citrus orchards. This will include an overview of the current costs and organisation of the prevention program in California, along with some of the research and development underpinning this program.

“HLB poses a real risk to fresh fruit industries around the world,” said Rabe. “The Australian industry is ahead of the curve relative to the spread of the vector and disease, so the lessons from North America will be of value in charting your own course forward.

“The message I really want to emphasise is that the Australian industry should take the potential threat seriously and react accordingly.”

Rabe will also discuss the differences in the disease’s progression in different climates.

“These different climates exist in Australia and should be taken into account when embarking on an industry-sanctioned ACP/HLB prevention program,” he added.

Rabe will be joined on the program by Florida-based Nate Jameson of Brite Leaf Nursery.

While Rabe and Jameson live in the same country, the HLB scenario in west coast California is vastly different to east coast Florida.

Jameson will outline the impact the disease has had on his home state, along with how the Florida industry is operating under a citrus canker and HLB paradigm, and the implications for nurseries and growers.

“The exclusion and prevention of citrus diseases are a key component to maintaining a healthy and profitable citrus industry,” Jameson said.

“To the best of our knowledge, Australia does not have HLB. I’m hoping that sharing our experiences with HLB in Florida will benefit the Australian citrus industry.”

Other speakers confirmed for the event include Juliano Ayres of Fundecitrus, an association maintained by citrus growers and juice manufacturers from the Brazilian state of São Paulo.

Ayers will discuss how Fundecitrus is working to improve the competitiveness of the Brazilian citrus industry by facilitating research, industry training and the adoption of innovative technology to curb the spread of HLB.

Xuefeng Wang of Southwest University/Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Siti Subandiyah of Gadjah Mada University will provide updates on the state of HLB in China and Indonesia respectively.

Closer to home, Citrus New Zealand’s Research Manager, Sally Anderson, will discuss how the New Zealand industry is preparing for the prospect of an exotic pest incursion.

Tahir Khurshid of the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) will shed light on the testing of HLB-tolerant rootstocks in Australia, while Noami Wynn of Plant Health Australia will provide an overview of emergency plant pest response arrangements.

The Biosecurity Symposium is just one of the many preparedness activities being undertaken by Citrus Australia and is an important collaboration with NSW DPI. For more information about biosecurity activities under the Citrus Watch program, or to view the Citrus Biosecurity Strategy, visit the Citrus Australia website.