Biosecurity – what is it and what does it mean to the nursery and garden industry?
The Nursery and Garden Industry grows and supplies a vast range of plants to many different regions of Australia. Plants grown by the industry are subject to a range of pests across the different climatic regions and environments throughout Australia. It is not just the existing established pests within Australia which the nursery industry should be concerned about. Exotic plant pests not currently known to exist in Australia are a real threat as well. Fortunately, due to the geographic isolation of Australia, we have had relatively few of the exotic plant pests which have impacted on plant industries overseas such as Sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum). Freedom from these pests is a vital part of the future profitability, productivity and sustainability of Australia’s plant industries and will also help protect the natural environment and landscape across Australia. (Michael Danelon, Nursery Industry Development Officer NGINA).