• There are many known biosecurity threats which could cause significant impacts to grower’s OGR if they were to arrive in NZ.
• We are unlikely to detect a new incursion on day one, or perhaps even within the first year until symptoms are expressed.
• Routine on-orchard biosecurity practices gives the industry the best chance at containing threats before they are detected and will provide the best shot at eradication and minimising impacts.

These were some of the messages to set the scene at KVH’s on-orchard biosecurity workshop earlier this week. Attendees included KVH and Zespri staff (who also supported the running of the event), horticultural consultants and several growers. The workshop was the first step in identifying what on-orchard biosecurity practices are needed to ensure the industry is well placed to meet any future biosecurity challenges. Grower representatives were in attendance to ensure that any recommendations are practical, easy to implement, cost effective, and appropriate for the level of risk. This process is expected to continue into early 2017.