Food Integrity and Biosecurity - RIRDC Completed Projects in 2005--2006 & Research in Progress as at June 2006

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RIRDC Completed Projects in 2005-2006 & Research in Progress as at June 2006
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3.6 Food Integrity and Biosecurity

PROJECT
No PROJECT TITLE RESEARCHER PHONE ORGANISATION

DPI-30J Guidelines for surveillance for plant pests in Asia and the Pacific Dr Ian Naumann 02 6272 3442 Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601

CPB-2A Survey of Australian rice blast races and cultivar susceptibility Dr Eric Cother 02 6391 3886 NSW DPI
Agricultural Institute
Forest Road
Orange NSW 2800

CSU-36A Assessment and communication of risk in agricultural quarantine issues Prof Margaret Alston (with Prof Allan Curtis, Prof John Tulloch & Ms Andrea Grant) 02 6933 2783 Charles Sturt University

DAV-28A Biosecurity and the small landholder—Linking spatial data to risk analysis Carole Hollier & Michael Reid 02 6030 4500 Department of Primary Industries
RMB 1145
Chiltern Valley Road
Rutherglen Victoria 3685

UT-44J Australian Food Safety Centre Professor TA McMeekin 03 6226 6280 University of Tasmania

Project Title: Guidelines for surveillance for plant pests in Asia and the Pacific

RIRDC Project No.: DPI-30J

Researcher: Dr Ian Naumann

Organisation: Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6272 3442

Fax: 02 6272 5835

Email: ian.naumann@daff.gov.au

Objectives ·1 To develop a manual for surveillance of agricultural crops and forests for the Asia-Pacific region.

Background In the new global trade environment under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement countries must be able to provide an adequate description of the health status of their crops. Fundamentally, plant health specialists in each country must be able to generate credible lists of the pests and diseases. Countries wishing to export agricultural commodities may be required in addition to demonstrate conclusively to trading partners the absence or low prevalence of particular pests or diseases. To meet these obligations plant health scientists must be able to perform surveys and surveillance that are scientifically credible and consistent with international standards.
Many South East Asian and Pacific Island nations have expressed concern at their lack of capacity and confidence to conduct surveys that comply with international standards. This lack of capacity has the potential to undermine their efforts to meet the market access requirements of trading partners and restricts their ability to share critical information with quarantine agencies in neighbouring countries.

Research The crop protection, forestry, quarantine and biodiversity literature was scanned for case studies that demonstrated best-practice for surveys and surveillance. A stepwise approach to choosing appropriate surveillance strategies was devised. The stepwise decision tree and case studies were tested by regional experts, first in a workshop situation and subsequently in field situations.

Outcomes A Surveillance manual including chapters on designing a specific survey, detection surveys, monitoring surveys, delimiting surveys, general surveillance, recording and reporting surveys, and a series of case studies demonstrating best practice and providing templates for future surveys.

Implications This manual will assist plant health scientists to devise surveillance programs that are appropriate to their needs, scientifically credible and consistent with international standards. The manual encourages the development of specimen-based (i.e. vouchered and thus verifiable) pest and disease lists. It also provides a basis for the sharing of plant health information and enhanced, safe trade in agricultural commodities.

Publications McMaugh T 2005 Guidelines for surveillance for plant pests in Asia and the Pacific. ACIAR Monograph No 119,192p
Translations in Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese will be available later in 2006.

Project Title Survey of Australian rice blast races and cultivar susceptibility

RIRDC Project No.: CPB-2A

Start Date: 15-01-2005

Finish Date: 31-05-2007

Researcher: Dr Eric Cother

Organisation: NSW DPI
Agricultural Institute
Forest Road
Orange NSW 2800

Phone: 02 6391 3886

Fax: 02 6391 3899

Email: Ric.cother@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Objectives ·1 Test the susceptibility status of our main rice cultivars and advanced breeding lines to the rice blast isolates present in our region

Current Progress
(200 words maximum)
A survey of wild Oryza species was conducted on the flood plains associated with the Alligator River at Beatrice Hill, and the Mary River north of Shady Camp (Northern Territory) were surveyed on 27 and 28 March 2006. Nine and 11 samples, respectively, were collected from these locations. Only O. meridionalis was found on the Alligator River but four samples of O. rufipogon were sampled on the Mary River. On 30 March, flood plains associated with the East and South Alligator Rivers were surveyed. Twenty four samples were collected, including one from O. rufipogon.
Approximately 300 lesions were plated out at CDU University, Darwin, from 24 samples representing the range of symptoms collected. Generally speaking, the occurrence of symptoms varied from site to site, although there was commonality in many of the lesion types observed. All samples were conveyed to Orange where further isolations from some samples were attempted within 7 days of collection. Herbarium specimens were pressed. So far, only four cultures (Drechslera spp.) have sporulated. Pantoea ananas, a known rice pathogen, was isolated from stem lesions or florets from discoloured florets from 3 locations. No cultures of Magnaporthe grisea were obtained. Sites in northern Queensland could not be accessed because of cyclone activity. This survey has been postponed until 2007.

Project Title Assessment and communication of risk in agricultural quarantine issues

RIRDC Project No.: CSU-36A

Start Date: 01-08-2005

Finish Date: 31-07-2006

Researcher: Prof Margaret Alston (with Prof Allan Curtis, Prof John Tulloch & Ms Andrea Grant)

Organisation: Charles Sturt University

Phone: 02 6933 2783

Fax: 02 6933 2293

Email: Malston@csu.edu.au

Objectives 1. Identify the social construction of quarantine risk across organisational, media, industry and other sub-cultures.
2. Identify different risk discourses used in the assessment and communication of quarantine risk between scientific experts, across different stakeholder groups and between experts and non-experts.
3. Explore the impact of scientific uncertainty on the assessment and communication of quarantine risk.

Current Progress Import risk analysis or the analysis of the likelihood and consequences of pest or disease entry, establishment and spread through imports has been controversial for a number of Australian agricultural industries. This study aims to explore different responses to pest and disease import risk and to provide decision-makers with a better understanding of environments in which they communicate risk. The study is being conducted in two stages. Stage one involves a qualitative analysis of interviews and documents. Analysis of data from stage one will inform focus groups and a national survey of stakeholders in citrus, pork and bee industries in stage two.
Stage one of data collection has been completed. A total of 31 interviews have been conducted in Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Interviews were conducted with members of state departments for primary industries (N=8), industry leaders (N=10), industry consultants (N=2), rural media reporters (N=4), local industry (N=24) and community members (N=3). Analysis of interviews reveals a set of complex and interwoven responses to risk with implications for risk communication. Issues emerging from preliminary analysis reported previously have been explored in relation to communication needs for risk assessment and management. Communicating the scientific dimensions of risk would benefit from an understanding of the broader context of the everyday lives of those involved in risk assessment and its management. Further analysis has revealed a number of key areas in which the assessment of risk would benefit from dialogic approach to risk communication. Those areas include but are not limited to the geographic dimensions of risk, surveillance knowledge and capacity, consequence analysis and comparative market advantage.
Analysis of media release, news reports, senate inquiries, stakeholder comments and other relevant documents have also been completed in which statements about pest and disease import risk have been extracted. These statements along with those extracted from interviews represent different rationalities of risk and will be used in focus group and survey methods to further define areas in which shared understandings of risk could be facilitated. The project aims to improve awareness of the social and cultural dimensions of pest and disease import risk and contribute to the resilience of Australian agricultural industries in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Project Title Biosecurity and the small landholder—Linking spatial data to risk analysis

RIRDC Project No.: DAV-28A

Start Date: 30/12/2005

Finish Date: 30/11/2007

Researcher: Carole Hollier & Michael Reid

Organisation: Department of Primary Industries
RMB 1145
Chiltern Valley Road
Rutherglen Victoria 3685

Phone: 02 6030 4500

Fax: 02 6030 4600

Email: Carole.hollier@dpi.vic.gov.au

Objectives The project will facilitate the development of strategies to improve capacity of industry and government staff to target and work with the small landholder sector in biosecurity. It will explore biosecurity risk assessment associated with small landholders and raise awareness of market protection and sustainable land use within the sector in collaboration with industry and government. The research approach aims to understand the key factors that lead to non-compliance behaviour in relation to biosecurity. The likely risks associated with small landholders will be assessed. The research will influence State and National biosecurity programs. The project will: · Assess the biosecurity risk associated with the small landholder sector.
· Assist government to identify appropriate prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies and policies to reduce the likelihood of a biosecurity threat attributed to the small landholder sector.
· Develop new strategies for risk assessment, targeting small rural property owners.

Current Progress Literature review suggests that social demographic change in rural areas and the risks associated with small lifestyle farmers have not been well integrated in biosecurity strategy development and plans.
Previous research shows that in the peri-urban zone small landholders are a significant portion and in many cases their agricultural knowledge is low. These farmers may not recognise biosecurity as a high priority, highlighting the need to build awareness and trust relationships with these groups over a long period.
An initial survey has been conducted (May 2006) with the sector to explore biosecurity awareness and biosecurity information sources. Preliminary results suggest that the sector have a poor understanding of biosecurity in agriculture and minimal understanding of biosecurity issues and land management. The data also indicates that the sector has poor awareness of information pathways to receive information on farm biosecurity issues or avenues to report possible biosecurity threats.
A National Workshop has been scheduled for June 30^th to review biosecurity risks associated with the sector and preparedness strategies.
This will improve understanding of deficiencies in current biosecurity programs and provide direction to target the sector for biosecurity preparedness and prevention.

Project Title Australian Food Safety Centre

RIRDC Project No.: UT-44J

Start Date: 30-Jun-2003

Finish Date: 30-Jun-2007

Researcher: Professor TA McMeekin

Organisation: University of Tasmania

Phone: 03 6226 6280

Fax: 03 6226 7450

Email: Tom.McMeekin@utas.edu.au

Objectives ·1 To provide the underpinning science and education to support the safety and reputation of Australian food

Current Progress
(200 words maximum)
The Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence was established in 2003 under the National Food Industry Strategy Limited (NFIS) to maintain and build capacity in the sciences underpinning the safe supply of food to the Australian public and for Australian foods exported to demanding markets. Outcomes achieved for our stakeholders include: ·1 Increasing industry awareness of the Centre and informing stakeholders about the emerging corporate challenge of social, environmental and economic sustainability at our annual industry forum.
·2 Continuing to meet stakeholder needs by developing tools and systems for food safety and through risk assessment work undertaken for food regulators and industry in the meat, poultry and grains area.
·3 Collaborating with the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Allergen Forum to define and promote industry needs in the areas.
·4 Co-ordinating with industry representatives to define needs surrounding the issue of physical contaminants in processed foods.
·5 Increasing the Centre’s complement of honours and postgraduate students to 20.
·6 Establishing methods to underpin delivery of our functional genomics technology platform that is leading towards:
-1 providing an understanding of the influence specific food preservation processes have on the virulence and resilience of the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, and
-2 evaluating a simple, rapid and reliable 'pass/fail' indicator suitable for field-based testing of samples for the presence of pathogens containing the shiga toxin gene (eg Escherichia coli O157:H7 and related organisms).
·1 Establishing a new performance and progress reporting system for the Centre to encourage active portfolio management and review, which indicates that the Centre is meeting over 80% of its targeted operating goals.
·2 Growing the Centre in areas of applied research by working with companies seeking to develop innovative products through the NFIS Ltd Food Innovation Grant scheme.
·3 Promoting our scientific outputs and capabilities at conferences, workshops, forums and working groups (locally, nationally and internationally).

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Last updated: October 2006 Copyright © RIRDC 2006
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3.6 Food Integrity and Biosecurity
PROJECT No	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCHER	PHONE	ORGANISATION

DPI-30J	Guidelines for surveillance for plant pests in Asia and the Pacific	Dr Ian Naumann	02 6272 3442	Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601
CPB-2A	Survey of Australian rice blast races and cultivar susceptibility	Dr Eric Cother	02 6391 3886	NSW DPI Agricultural Institute Forest Road Orange NSW 2800
CSU-36A	Assessment and communication of risk in agricultural quarantine issues	Prof Margaret Alston (with Prof Allan Curtis, Prof John Tulloch & Ms Andrea Grant)	02 6933 2783	Charles Sturt University
DAV-28A	Biosecurity and the small landholder—Linking spatial data to risk analysis	Carole Hollier & Michael Reid	02 6030 4500	Department of Primary Industries RMB 1145 Chiltern Valley Road Rutherglen Victoria 3685
UT-44J	Australian Food Safety Centre	Professor TA McMeekin	03 6226 6280	University of Tasmania

Project Title:	Guidelines for surveillance for plant pests in Asia and the Pacific
RIRDC Project No.:	DPI-30J
Researcher:	Dr Ian Naumann
Organisation:	Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601
Phone:	02 6272 3442
Fax:	02 6272 5835
Email:	ian.naumann@daff.gov.au
Objectives	·1 To develop a manual for surveillance of agricultural crops and forests for the Asia-Pacific region.
Background	In the new global trade environment under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement countries must be able to provide an adequate description of the health status of their crops. Fundamentally, plant health specialists in each country must be able to generate credible lists of the pests and diseases. Countries wishing to export agricultural commodities may be required in addition to demonstrate conclusively to trading partners the absence or low prevalence of particular pests or diseases. To meet these obligations plant health scientists must be able to perform surveys and surveillance that are scientifically credible and consistent with international standards. Many South East Asian and Pacific Island nations have expressed concern at their lack of capacity and confidence to conduct surveys that comply with international standards. This lack of capacity has the potential to undermine their efforts to meet the market access requirements of trading partners and restricts their ability to share critical information with quarantine agencies in neighbouring countries.
Research	The crop protection, forestry, quarantine and biodiversity literature was scanned for case studies that demonstrated best-practice for surveys and surveillance. A stepwise approach to choosing appropriate surveillance strategies was devised. The stepwise decision tree and case studies were tested by regional experts, first in a workshop situation and subsequently in field situations.
Outcomes	A Surveillance manual including chapters on designing a specific survey, detection surveys, monitoring surveys, delimiting surveys, general surveillance, recording and reporting surveys, and a series of case studies demonstrating best practice and providing templates for future surveys.
Implications	This manual will assist plant health scientists to devise surveillance programs that are appropriate to their needs, scientifically credible and consistent with international standards. The manual encourages the development of specimen-based (i.e. vouchered and thus verifiable) pest and disease lists. It also provides a basis for the sharing of plant health information and enhanced, safe trade in agricultural commodities.
Publications	McMaugh T 2005 Guidelines for surveillance for plant pests in Asia and the Pacific. ACIAR Monograph No 119,192p Translations in Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese will be available later in 2006.

Project Title	Survey of Australian rice blast races and cultivar susceptibility
RIRDC Project No.:	CPB-2A
Start Date:	15-01-2005
Finish Date:	31-05-2007
Researcher:	Dr Eric Cother
Organisation:	NSW DPI Agricultural Institute Forest Road Orange NSW 2800
Phone:	02 6391 3886
Fax:	02 6391 3899
Email:	Ric.cother@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Objectives	·1 Test the susceptibility status of our main rice cultivars and advanced breeding lines to the rice blast isolates present in our region
Current Progress (200 words maximum)	A survey of wild Oryza species was conducted on the flood plains associated with the Alligator River at Beatrice Hill, and the Mary River north of Shady Camp (Northern Territory) were surveyed on 27 and 28 March 2006. Nine and 11 samples, respectively, were collected from these locations. Only O. meridionalis was found on the Alligator River but four samples of O. rufipogon were sampled on the Mary River. On 30 March, flood plains associated with the East and South Alligator Rivers were surveyed. Twenty four samples were collected, including one from O. rufipogon. Approximately 300 lesions were plated out at CDU University, Darwin, from 24 samples representing the range of symptoms collected. Generally speaking, the occurrence of symptoms varied from site to site, although there was commonality in many of the lesion types observed. All samples were conveyed to Orange where further isolations from some samples were attempted within 7 days of collection. Herbarium specimens were pressed. So far, only four cultures (Drechslera spp.) have sporulated. Pantoea ananas, a known rice pathogen, was isolated from stem lesions or florets from discoloured florets from 3 locations. No cultures of Magnaporthe grisea were obtained. Sites in northern Queensland could not be accessed because of cyclone activity. This survey has been postponed until 2007.

Project Title	Assessment and communication of risk in agricultural quarantine issues
RIRDC Project No.:	CSU-36A
Start Date:	01-08-2005
Finish Date:	31-07-2006
Researcher:	Prof Margaret Alston (with Prof Allan Curtis, Prof John Tulloch & Ms Andrea Grant)
Organisation:	Charles Sturt University
Phone:	02 6933 2783
Fax:	02 6933 2293
Email:	Malston@csu.edu.au
Objectives	1. Identify the social construction of quarantine risk across organisational, media, industry and other sub-cultures. 2. Identify different risk discourses used in the assessment and communication of quarantine risk between scientific experts, across different stakeholder groups and between experts and non-experts. 3. Explore the impact of scientific uncertainty on the assessment and communication of quarantine risk.
Current Progress	Import risk analysis or the analysis of the likelihood and consequences of pest or disease entry, establishment and spread through imports has been controversial for a number of Australian agricultural industries. This study aims to explore different responses to pest and disease import risk and to provide decision-makers with a better understanding of environments in which they communicate risk. The study is being conducted in two stages. Stage one involves a qualitative analysis of interviews and documents. Analysis of data from stage one will inform focus groups and a national survey of stakeholders in citrus, pork and bee industries in stage two. Stage one of data collection has been completed. A total of 31 interviews have been conducted in Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Interviews were conducted with members of state departments for primary industries (N=8), industry leaders (N=10), industry consultants (N=2), rural media reporters (N=4), local industry (N=24) and community members (N=3). Analysis of interviews reveals a set of complex and interwoven responses to risk with implications for risk communication. Issues emerging from preliminary analysis reported previously have been explored in relation to communication needs for risk assessment and management. Communicating the scientific dimensions of risk would benefit from an understanding of the broader context of the everyday lives of those involved in risk assessment and its management. Further analysis has revealed a number of key areas in which the assessment of risk would benefit from dialogic approach to risk communication. Those areas include but are not limited to the geographic dimensions of risk, surveillance knowledge and capacity, consequence analysis and comparative market advantage. Analysis of media release, news reports, senate inquiries, stakeholder comments and other relevant documents have also been completed in which statements about pest and disease import risk have been extracted. These statements along with those extracted from interviews represent different rationalities of risk and will be used in focus group and survey methods to further define areas in which shared understandings of risk could be facilitated. The project aims to improve awareness of the social and cultural dimensions of pest and disease import risk and contribute to the resilience of Australian agricultural industries in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Project Title	Biosecurity and the small landholder—Linking spatial data to risk analysis
RIRDC Project No.:	DAV-28A
Start Date:	30/12/2005
Finish Date:	30/11/2007
Researcher:	Carole Hollier & Michael Reid
Organisation:	Department of Primary Industries RMB 1145 Chiltern Valley Road Rutherglen Victoria 3685
Phone:	02 6030 4500
Fax:	02 6030 4600
Email:	Carole.hollier@dpi.vic.gov.au
Objectives	The project will facilitate the development of strategies to improve capacity of industry and government staff to target and work with the small landholder sector in biosecurity. It will explore biosecurity risk assessment associated with small landholders and raise awareness of market protection and sustainable land use within the sector in collaboration with industry and government. The research approach aims to understand the key factors that lead to non-compliance behaviour in relation to biosecurity. The likely risks associated with small landholders will be assessed. The research will influence State and National biosecurity programs. The project will: · Assess the biosecurity risk associated with the small landholder sector. · Assist government to identify appropriate prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies and policies to reduce the likelihood of a biosecurity threat attributed to the small landholder sector. · Develop new strategies for risk assessment, targeting small rural property owners.
Current Progress	Literature review suggests that social demographic change in rural areas and the risks associated with small lifestyle farmers have not been well integrated in biosecurity strategy development and plans. Previous research shows that in the peri-urban zone small landholders are a significant portion and in many cases their agricultural knowledge is low. These farmers may not recognise biosecurity as a high priority, highlighting the need to build awareness and trust relationships with these groups over a long period. An initial survey has been conducted (May 2006) with the sector to explore biosecurity awareness and biosecurity information sources. Preliminary results suggest that the sector have a poor understanding of biosecurity in agriculture and minimal understanding of biosecurity issues and land management. The data also indicates that the sector has poor awareness of information pathways to receive information on farm biosecurity issues or avenues to report possible biosecurity threats. A National Workshop has been scheduled for June 30^th to review biosecurity risks associated with the sector and preparedness strategies. This will improve understanding of deficiencies in current biosecurity programs and provide direction to target the sector for biosecurity preparedness and prevention.

Project Title	Australian Food Safety Centre
RIRDC Project No.:	UT-44J
Start Date:	30-Jun-2003
Finish Date:	30-Jun-2007
Researcher:	Professor TA McMeekin
Organisation:	University of Tasmania
Phone:	03 6226 6280
Fax:	03 6226 7450
Email:	Tom.McMeekin@utas.edu.au
Objectives	·1 To provide the underpinning science and education to support the safety and reputation of Australian food
Current Progress (200 words maximum)	The Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence was established in 2003 under the National Food Industry Strategy Limited (NFIS) to maintain and build capacity in the sciences underpinning the safe supply of food to the Australian public and for Australian foods exported to demanding markets. Outcomes achieved for our stakeholders include: ·1 Increasing industry awareness of the Centre and informing stakeholders about the emerging corporate challenge of social, environmental and economic sustainability at our annual industry forum. ·2 Continuing to meet stakeholder needs by developing tools and systems for food safety and through risk assessment work undertaken for food regulators and industry in the meat, poultry and grains area. ·3 Collaborating with the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Allergen Forum to define and promote industry needs in the areas. ·4 Co-ordinating with industry representatives to define needs surrounding the issue of physical contaminants in processed foods. ·5 Increasing the Centre’s complement of honours and postgraduate students to 20. ·6 Establishing methods to underpin delivery of our functional genomics technology platform that is leading towards: -1 providing an understanding of the influence specific food preservation processes have on the virulence and resilience of the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, and -2 evaluating a simple, rapid and reliable 'pass/fail' indicator suitable for field-based testing of samples for the presence of pathogens containing the shiga toxin gene (eg Escherichia coli O157:H7 and related organisms). ·1 Establishing a new performance and progress reporting system for the Centre to encourage active portfolio management and review, which indicates that the Centre is meeting over 80% of its targeted operating goals. ·2 Growing the Centre in areas of applied research by working with companies seeking to develop innovative products through the NFIS Ltd Food Innovation Grant scheme. ·3 Promoting our scientific outputs and capabilities at conferences, workshops, forums and working groups (locally, nationally and internationally).