NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) biotechnology team leader, Brendon O’Rourke, said an ambitious target to develop more than 200 new diagnostic tests is close to delivery.
“Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) staff are customising and improving diagnostic tests to incorporate advanced technologies which will account for genetic variation in Australian isolates,” Dr O’Rourke said.
“Building on DPIRD’s scientific expertise in pest and disease diagnostics and management of emergency responses, we are able to deliver rapid, accurate and scalable diagnostics for biosecurity threats, including those exotic to Australia.
“Rapid diagnosis in an emergency response better informs our actions to suppress pests and diseases, bring them under control and significantly reduce the size and cost of eradication.”
The five-year project, supported by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, is developing methods which will allow NSW DPIRD to accurately and rapidly diagnose a new pest or disease incursion and scale-up diagnostic capabilities to quickly support an effective emergency response.
The targeted 200-plus targeted terrestrial and aquatic risks are some of the most threatening to NSW and are listed as notifiable and high-priority pests and diseases by Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia, Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, NSW DPIRD and other biosecurity agencies.
The potential impact of an incursion of these pests and diseases would have a significant impact on NSW’s environment, primary industries and the economy.
Diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease which isn’t present in Australia, could cost millions of dollars in control costs, production and market loss.
