Why biosecurity is becoming core nursery business

By Sean Cole

Every week or two somewhere in Australia, a new plant pest or disease is detected. Most growers never see those headlines directly, but the consequences travel fast: lost crops, halted plant movements, disrupted supply chains and extra costs. In other words, they keep trucks parked and hit a nursery’s balance sheet.

In many cases, by the time a pest is confirmed, it has already moved through multiple businesses. Biosecurity used to sit on the edges of the business, something discussed when there was a major outbreak somewhere. Increasingly, the industry recognises that biosecurity needs to be built into everyday nursery operations.

The risk landscape is shifting

Australia’s nursery industry produces more than two billion plants each year and contributes around $2.7 billion to the economy, moving plants between nurseries, retailers, landscapers and projects around the country. At the same time, global trade, climate pressures and shifting pest dynamics are increasing the likelihood of new pests and diseases arriving.

Behind the scenes, thousands of growers and staff are using industry tools, training and extension support to keep those plants healthy. When pests do appear, the consequences can escalate quickly. Eradication responses are complex and costly for the industry, and nurseries affected by an incursion can face significant disruption even after the immediate response is over.

That is why the focus across the industry is shifting steadily toward prevention. Stopping a pest entering a nursery is far easier, and far cheaper, than dealing with a full outbreak later.

Practical support on the ground

A lot of this work happens directly with growers and at scale. Across Australia, levy-funded GrowConnex experts work with nursery businesses to walk through production systems and identify where pests or diseases might enter or spread. GrowConnex specialists have completed more than 7,300 on-site nursery visits across Australia. Mini Technical Skills Courses have delivered more than 1,080 training sessions to over 7,100 nursery staff and growers. Often the most effective changes are surprisingly simple: tightening up dispatch procedures, separating plant flows between areas or improving monitoring routines. Small operational adjustments can significantly reduce how easily pests move through a nursery. When nurseries are busy, those details are easy to overlook.

Systems that help nurseries manage risk

Plant material entering the nursery is one of the most common ways pests and diseases arrive in production systems, while movement of plants, tools and equipment within the nursery can allow problems to spread. Programs such as BioSecure HACCP, part of the Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS), help nurseries identify where biosecurity risks occur during production and put practical controls in place. The aim is not more paperwork. It is giving growers a clearer picture of where problems might start so they can deal with them early.

Many businesses are also using the Audit Management System (AMS), a free digital platform available to accredited nurseries. The system brings pest monitoring, records and compliance information together in one place, helping growers respond quickly if something changes.

The industry’s Pest ID Tool now has more than 4,300 registered users, while the APPS Technical Library has been accessed more than 44,000 times by growers and advisers looking for technical guidance.

Protecting the industry’s reputation

Strong plant health practices are a key part of the reputation Australian nursery production is known for. Retailers, landscapers and project managers rely on nurseries to supply healthy plants that perform well once they leave the gate. Maintaining that confidence depends on consistent plant health standards across the industry.

Looking ahead

New technology is also beginning to change how pests are detected and managed. Rapid DNA diagnostics and improved monitoring systems are making it easier to identify potential problems earlier and respond faster. But even as new tools emerge, the fundamentals remain the same. Clean production systems, good monitoring, clear processes and consistent record keeping inside individual nurseries form the foundation of strong biosecurity. The nursery levy helps support this work, funding research, extension and practical tools that help businesses manage risk.

At its core, systematic biosecurity practices protect what every nursery depends on: healthy crops, reliable production and industry confidence. Increasingly, biosecurity is not a separate program. It is part of running a well-managed nursery.

Sean Cole

Chief Executive Officer

Greenlife Industry Australia