Government-industry meeting brings together over 50 potato industry, grower and government biosecurity representatives
Ausveg has convened a government-industry Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) meeting to present the key concerns of Australian potato growers.
The meeting, which took place on November 18 in Melbourne, welcomed over 50 potato industry, grower and State and Federal Government biosecurity agency representatives to hear and consider a range of perspectives and concerns as the complexities of managing the virus are worked through.
PMTV has only been confirmed as present in Tasmania, with restrictions remaining in place on the movement of potatoes to the mainland. It was declared not technically feasible to eradicate and Biosecurity Tasmania has wound down its formal biosecurity response, meaning management of the virus is now the responsibility of industry through the potato production process.
Through the meeting, Ausveg sought to provide potato growers and key stakeholders representing different parts of the national potato industry with the opportunity to provide their perspectives to key government and biosecurity decision-makers from state and federal jurisdictions.
“Since detection in Tasmania earlier this year, PMTV has been a cause of major concern for potato growers around the country,” said Ausveg CEO Michael Coote.
“The determination that PMTV is not technically feasible to eradicate does not mean we can let our guard down when it comes to protecting potato growers, and our national industry.
“Australia’s national potato industry is complex and multi-faceted, comprising a range of stakeholders and interested parties. In this dynamic environment it is important that, without a pre-determined outcome in mind, we bring parties with skin in the game together, to ensure the views and needs of growers in the national potato industry are reflected in the national approach to managing PMTV as we move forward.
“While as much as possible it will be important to foster a nationally consistent approach to ongoing testing and surveillance for PMTV, fundamentally it is key to ensure the interests of Australian potato growers are protected, and that the integrity of our national potato industry preserved to ensure its future viability.”
