National Plant Biosecurity RD&E Strategy Implementation Committee

Meeting 11

Face to face, Parkroyal, Melbourne Airport, Melbourne.

27th October, 2015

10am – 3pm

Attendees

Name / Organisation
Dr Clive Noble (Chair) / Independent Chair
Dr Mike Ashton / QDAFF
Mr Greg Fraser / PHA
Mr Tim Lester / CRRDC
Mr David Moore / HIAL
Dr Suzy Perry / QDAFF
Dr Michael Robinson / PBCRC
Dr Simone Warner / DEDJTR Vic
Mr Rod Turner (Strategy Leader) / PHA
Dr Victoria Ludowici (Executive Officer) / PHA

Via teleconference

Name / Organisation
Dr Rosalie McCauley (replacing Dr Rob Loughman) / DAFWA
Dr Sally Troy (replacing Dr Kim Ritman) / Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Apologies

Name / Organisation
Dr Gary Fitt / CSIRO
Dr Rob Loughman / DAFWA
Dr Kim Ritman / Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Key Dates

8th December- Next meeting in Canberra

22, 24 and 29th March 2016- PHA Annual Operating Plan meetings in Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane respectively

31stMay 2016- PHA Plant Industry Forum, EPPRD Parties meeting and General Meeting

1st June 2016- Plant Biosecurity RD&E Forum (tentative)

Meeting Summary

The committee discussed the progress of the Plant Biosecurity CRC (PBCRC) “Sustainable RD&E system to support National Plant Health”project.The final report (Report C) has been delayed whilst the PBCRC board considers how to progress this project.

The fruit fly audit was considered by the committee who made recommendations regarding clarification of the methodology and key findings which will be passed on to the National Fruit Fly Council.The committee requested that the R&D elements of the report be provided back to the committee for consideration when signed off by the National Fruit Fly Council.

A new Conference planning working group was formed to develop a Plant Biosecurity RD&E Conference programme for the committee to consider at the next meeting.

The committee also discussed its progress over the last year and futureopportunities. A series of draft key performance indicators were presented and it was agreed they will be further developed out of session.

Agenda Items 1 and 2: Welcome and Apologies

The Chair welcomed all to the eleventh meeting of the Implementation Committee. Apologies were received from Gary Fitt, Rob Loughman and Kim Ritman.

Agenda Item 3 – Review of Action Items from Meeting

Progress on the individual Action items arising from the previous meetingswerediscussed. Individual Action Items to be covered through the agenda of this meeting were deferred to the appropriate Agenda Item. A number of Action Items were noted as complete.

The Chair and Department of Agriculture and Water Resources held initialdiscussions about whetherthe Committee has a role in Environmental Biosecurity and if it should form linkages to the Environment Biosecurity Strategy developed by NBC.Further discussions need to take place before this issue is resolved.

The draft paper on the cross sectoral priority analysis was presented to the committee.The results section cannot be completed until all the information has been compiled. It was noted that some of the information was difficult to find and perhaps a better way of capturing this data could be developed. PHA has contacted GRDC regarding a report of the grains extension audit. GRDC have agreed to provide the report. The membership of the committee was also discussed. AGWAhas expressed interest in being represented on the committee and the committee agreedboth AGWA and GRDC wouldbe represented on the committee.

Action: PHA to follow up with AGWA and GRDC on committee representation

Agenda Item 4 – A sustainable RD&E system to support National Plant Health update

The PBCRC provided an update on the “Sustainable RD&E system to support National Plant Health” project.The PBCRC advised they ran two workshops in which ten different potential models were proposed for stakeholders to discuss.Following theseworkshops, the PBCRC is preparing a summary report (referred to as report C) which will collate the information from Report A (review of the current biosecurity system in Australia), Report B (proposed RD&E models) and the two stakeholder workshops to provide recommendations on a way forward to develop a sustainable RD&E system to support national plant biosecurity.The PBCRC is currently reconsidering how to developReport C and who should be involved. Finalisation of Report C has been delayed until next year.

Agenda Item 5 – Fruit fly audit

The draft fruit fly audit carried out in conjunction with the National Fruit Fly Advisory Committee (NFFAC)was presented to the committee for consideration. It was noted that the NFFAC has asked for a summary document outlining the key findings which would be made publically available. The committee noted that this audit would benefit from more clarity around the methods used and the key findings of the audit. It was also noted that this is not a true audit rather a stocktake as it was not carried out against a specific set of requirements. The committee sought advice on the question asked of the jurisdictions in relations to staff numbers and responsibilities.The meeting was also advised that Plant Health Committee isdeveloping a prioritisation template and that this template may be helpful in clarifying the intent of the audit.

Following the finalisation of the audit by the NFFAC,this committee can review the RD&E component.

Action: PHA circulate the questions sent to the jurisdictions for the fruit fly audit

Action: PHA to request PHC to circulate their draft prioritisation template to the committee

The progress of the other two audits (Diagnostics and Northern Australia) was briefly discussed. The chair of the Sub Committee on Plant Health Diagnostics provided an update of progress for the diagnostics audit at meeting 9 and the progress of the northern Australia audit was unknownand the committee asked the executive to obtain a progress update from the CSIRO.

Action: PHA to ask CSIRO about the progress of the northern Australia audit

Agenda Item 6 – Future priorities/progress of the committee

At the last meeting the Chair asked the Executive to review the National Plant Biosecurity RD&E Strategy (NPBRDES) and activities the committee is currently undertaking against the strategic responses[1] and potential activities the committee could undertake in the future.The Executive presented a document with thirteen options for potential future activities for the committee (Table 1).The committee made comment on each activity as to whether the committee should be involved and the importance of the activity.

Table 1: potential future activities for the committee to take part in from Agenda Item 6 papers and the committee’s responses.

Activity / Should the committee play a role? / Importance
Review major, support, link organisations from NPBRDE Strategy / Yes / Medium
Develop targeted audits / Yes / High
Audit of fundamental R&D / Yes / Medium-High
Diagnostic protocols for insidious pests from soil or plant tissue / Unsure if there is a role for the committee
Diagnostic protocols for viruses/bacteria within an insect vector / Unsure if there is a role for the committee
Beetle entomopathogens / Unsure if there is a role for the committee
Determine gaps in the RD&E system and implement succession plan / Yes / Medium (pending outcome of audits)
Further literature review of National Plant Biosecurity Status Report (other case studies) / Yes / Medium
Elucidation of host range mechanisms / Unsure if there is a role for the committee
Body of knowledge / Yes / High
Centres of Excellence / Yes / Low (pending outcome of audits)
Model Farm / Possibly- but a broader role in the extension space to be considered / Low (addressed by PHA)
Understanding drivers and barriers / Possibly- there are a number of PBCRC projects covering this topic / Low (pending outcome of audits)

A second document was presented to the committee whichincluded strategies and key performance indicators and a table detailing activities and responsibilities. This document was well received, in particular the key performance indicators section.The committee asked that timelines be added to each of the activities.

The Chair asked the committee if there were are any additional activities the committee considered relevant. The committee noted that running an annual forum/workshop was important as well as a role in facilitating greater cooperation and sharing of RDE priorities between industry, regulators and RDE providers. Overall, the committee emphasised that the umbrella priority role was to “build and strengthen the linkages and communication between stakeholders to establish an understanding of RDE priorities leading to greater coordination and cooperation”.

The committee noted that the NPBRDE Strategy, approved by SCoPI, was for the period to 2016. The committee discussed the need to update the strategy. The committee view was that the strategy only needed a minor update and this could be achieved by a short document that revised the program logic and associated priorities for the Implementation Committee.

The Chair and PHA agreed to utilise the committee’s responses to priority activities together with the format of the second document as a basis for updating the committee’s program logic, strategic responses/focus areas, priority activities and KPIs (with timelines)and test it with a reference group (DEDJTR and CRRDC) before the next meeting.

Action: PHA and Chair to further develop the update of the program logic, strategic responses, activities/ key performance indicators and timelines.

Agenda Item 7 – Forum/Conference

The forum planning working group met out of session and discussed running a two-day conference rather than a one-day workshop or forum. It considered it important to have an agenda that would be sufficiently attractive for all stakeholder groups to want to attend, noting that one of the issues facing the plant biosecurity system is fragmentation which flows on to the RD&E sector.

The committee discussed various options for inclusion in the Forum/Conference and considered that the following items should be considered for inclusion and that if necessary, some parallel sessions could be included.

a)Awareness of key platform technologies (new and emerging) that may have broader applications.

b)Discussion, presentations on RD&E priorities of regulators, industry (RDCs) and providers (this may include ‘how each group identify their priorities’ and/or ‘what their priorities are’, and/or ‘how to develop joint priorities’.

c)Presentations of a number of case studies to illustrate issues pertaining to “platform technologies” or “lessons learnt from greater knowledge and priority sharing”. Suggested topics and case studies included pollination/bees, brown marmorated stink bug, navel orange worm, Xylellafastidiosa, detector dogs, Panama disease.

d)Inclusion of the results of the committee’s analysis of priority areas for collaborative R&D or capability development.

A conference planning group was formed, involving PBCRC (lead) DEDJTR, QDAF and HIAL (composition to cover technology providers, jurisdiction and industry RDC perspectives) to develop a draft programme for this conference, noting the committee’s discussion, to be presented at the next meeting.

Action: PBCRC, DEDJTR, QDAF and HIALto meet and develop a conference programme

Agenda Item 8 – R&I progress report

The R&I progress reportwas submitted to the AGSOC Research and Innovation Committee in Augustand was attached for the committee’s consideration. The strategy leaders of this committee and the National Animal Biosecurity RD&E Strategy were due to present to the AGSOC R&I Committee in November.However, the meeting date has changed and the date now clashes with the AHA/PHA joint industry forum.Both Strategy Leaders have advised that they are unable to attend and the AGSOC R&ICommittee Secretariat is currently trying to reschedule the presentations.

Action: PHA to follow up with the R&I Committee secretariat the date of the AGSOC R&I Committee meeting

Agenda Item 9 – Key messages for communication

Key messages for communication will be generated out of session.

Agenda Item 10 – Other Business

No other business was raised.

Agenda Item 10 – Next meeting and close

The next meeting will be held on 8th December from 8:30 am – 2 pm in Canberra.

Draft Minutes Meeting 11 NPBRDE Strategy Implementation Committee Page 1 of 10

Summary of actions
Action Item / Action / Responsibility / Expected Completion / Status / Comments
Meeting 11
Agenda Item 3 / PHA to follow up with AGWA and GRDC on committee representation / PHA / 1.12.15
Agenda Item 5 / PHA circulate the questions sent to the jurisdictions for the fruit fly audit / PHA / 1.12.15
PHA to request PHC to circulate their draft prioritisation template to the committee / PHA / 1.12.15 / Complete
PHA to ask CSIRO about the progress of the northern Australia audit / PHA / 1.12.15
Agenda Item 6 / PHA and Chair to further develop the update of the program logic, strategic responses, activities/ key performance indicators and timelines / PHA and Chair / 1.12.15
Agenda Item 7 / PBCRC, DEDJTR, QDAF and HIAL to meet and develop a conference programme / PBCRC, DEDJTR, QDAF and HIAL / 1.12.15
Agenda Item 8 / PHA to follow up with the R&I Committee secretariat the date of the AGSOC R&I Committee meeting / PHA / 1.12.15
Meeting 10
Agenda Item 4A / The PBCRC to provide “Report C” on the sustainable RD&E system project to the Executive Officer to circulate to the committee. / PBCRC / 27.10.15 / In Progress / Discussed in Agenda Item 4
Agenda Item 5 / Forum organising committee to meet and present a paper at Meeting 11 covering venue, draft program, topic/theme of the forum, facilitator, date and venue of the forum. / PHA, PBCRC, DEDJTR, QDAF / 1.10.15 / Complete / A new working group formed who will present to Meeting 12.
Agenda Item 6 / Executive Officer to write a draft paper on the Cross sectoral priorities analysis to be presented to CRRDC and distributed amongst the committee’s stakeholders. / Executive Officer / 7.12.15 / In Progress / A draft paper has been written however the results have not been written as they are not complete
Meeting 9
Chair to talk with Department of Agriculture regarding this committee’s role in environmental biosecurity and linkages (if any) to the Environment Biosecurity Strategy developed by NBC. / Chair and DA / 12.8.15 / In progress / Initial meeting held but a follow up meeting required.
Agenda Item 8 / Consideration of the Grains and Horticulture Extension Audits to be included as an Agenda Item in the next NPBRDESIC Meeting 11. / GRDC and HIA / 12.8.15 / In progress / HIA included a report at the last meeting. Have contacted GRDC regarding their report.
Meeting 8
Agenda Item 5 / CSIRO and PBCRC to nominate research leader participants in the Plant biosecurity forum and a presenter for the technology based plant biosecurity cross sectoral project / CSIRO and PBCRC / 18.6.15 / No longer required / A new approach to the forum discussed at meeting 11 and the nominees will be considered by the new subcommittee.
Action Item 5: NSW DPI and DA to suggest participants at the forum for the Commonwealth and state governments / NSW DPI and DA / 18.6.15 / No longer required / A new approach to the forum discussed at meeting 11 and the nominees will be considered by the new subcommittee.
Action Item 7: CRRDC, GRDC and HIA to suggest participants at the forum for RDCs / CRRDC, GRDC and HIA / 18.6.15 / No longer required / A new approach to the forum discussed at meeting 11 and the nominees will be considered by the new subcommittee.

Draft Minutes Meeting 11 NPBRDE Strategy Implementation Committee Page 1 of 10

[1] The strategic responses for consideration by the implementation committee can be found in table 4 (pg 31) in the National Plant biosecurity RD&E Strategy