Hello from Inca Lee
The South Australian Government through Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) has announced plans for a new Biosecurity Act.
PIRSA has now opened a public consultation process for the development of the new Act and has developed a range of supporting material which can be found here. Consultation will close on Tuesday 24 November 2020.
We are working closely with the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) and the Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGCSA) to deliver a clear wine industry position during the consultation process.
Changes to biosecurity management in SA should add value to the wine industry’s strong 120 years of activity and vigilance in pest and disease management, including phylloxera prevention.
If you would like to submit feedback, you can send directly to PIRSA via the details listed here, or to me by 13 November 2020 via inca@vinehealth.com.au or 0418 818 543.
We'll send more information about the new Biosecurity Act and the consultation process to registered vineyard owners shortly.
We encourage you to get involved. The detail of any new Biosecurity Act for South Australia will need to be carefully assessed to ensure it enhances the wine industry’s long standing commitment to biosecurity.
Inca Lee
CEO, Vinehealth Australia
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Digital Biosecurity Platform announcement
Vinehealth Australia’s Digital Biosecurity Platform project has taken a major step forward with the appointment of Coruscant Digital as the preferred technology partner.
Vinehealth and Coruscant are now entering a discovery phase which will detail the system requirements, design and architecture to provide a roadmap for the build of the new platform.
Read more
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Shoe cover
prototypes tested
Over the past month, our shoe covers project in partnership with Stephanie Small from UniSA has progressed to the prototype testing stage.
The main aim of this phase was assessing the functionality and durability of a range of compostable materials for use as a hard sole, including sugar cane and corn starch. We looked at the wear and tear on different surfaces, flexibility of the materials and sole size, in particular.
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Adopt a trap for biosecurity
Do you have family or friends in Adelaide who would like to help strengthen SA’s biosecurity surveillance system? PIRSA is looking for volunteers to help monitor for tomato potato psyllid (TPP), a major horticultural pest.
Volunteers will be given a free tomato, capsicum or chilli plant which they get to keep, along with a TPP insect trap.
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Shottesbrooke: for
the love of vines
Shottesbrooke Wines in McLaren Vale is a five-star rated family-run winery, managed by second generation Hamish Maguire, and known for outstanding wine.
Shottesbrooke is also working hard to be recognised for its focus on vine health, with biosecurity worked into conversations at the cellar door and wine tourism biosecurity signs up in high traffic locations, asking people not to walk into vineyards.
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Call for best Insta spots
Wineries are reporting that tourists are once again out and about in our regions, which is great news for our cellar doors, restaurants, tourism businesses and accommodation providers.
It’s a good time to remind ourselves that the best way to keep our vines and wines safe is to keep visitors out of our vineyards.
So, we want to know: what are the best ‘biosecure’ insta spots in South Australian wine regions?
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New signs safeguarding Barossa vines
Twelve new Wine Tourism Biosecurity Signs have been installed around the Barossa, including on the Jack Bobridge cycling track, courtesy of Vinehealth Australia and Biosecurity SA.
The signs were designed by Vinehealth Australia and printed with funding from Biosecurity SA. They were installed by The Barossa Council in September. Mayor Bim Lange said the wine industry was one of the Barossa’s most important sectors, and one that needed protecting.
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Predicting Xylella spread
In a recently published article on Xylella fastidiosa in olives, authored by White et al. (2020), scientists have used mathematical models describing both spread and key determinants of this spread, based on observed field data of disease progression.
The authors estimated that each infected tree showing symptoms is able to infect around 19 other trees per year (95% credible range of 14-26).
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Winetitles 25% off subscription offer
Winetitles Media is generously offering vineyard owners a 25% discount on a 12-month subscription to Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker Magazine. Just visit www.winetitles.com.au/gwm and use the coupon code amem2520 at the checkout to receive the discount. The code is valid until 30 June 2021.
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Mandarin subtitles
Last month we reminded you to watch our Who's Hitchhiking With You? video, starring Phil the Phylloxera Guy sneaking into vines on tourists' shoes, clothes and tyres. This month, we encourage you to watch the version with Mandarin subtitles, which is perfect for sharing with your Chinese visitors and buyers.
Watch the video here
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Golding Wines
“Since placing the biosecurity signage at our vineyard there has been an increased opportunity for engagement, through conversations with our guests, about the dangers of introducing pests and diseases into the South Australian wine industry. Many visitors are not even aware that this is an issue and that they could unknowingly be part of the problem by taking a walk in our vines. We have found that once guests are empowered with that information they make the right choices. The signage has been a great conversation starter and a tool for spreading greater awareness of the biosecurity issues our industry faces.”
Lucy Golding, Golding Wines, Adelaide Hills
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- SA PQS tip #9: Dry heat has been added as an alternative sterilisation treatment to hot water for used vessels that have held grapes (e.g. grape bins or picking buckets).
- SA PQS tip #10: When using hot water to sterilise used vessels that have held grapes, hand tools and machinery other than grape harvesters for entry into SA, the temperature and duration is now 60˚C for 1½ minutes.
- SA PQS tip #11: Based on peer-reviewed science, the duration of dry heat treatment of machinery undertaken at 40˚C has increased from 2 to 3 hours for entry into SA. You can also dry heat treat at 45˚C for 90 minutes.
- SA PQS tip #12: Entry requirements for equipment from a PRZ are now aligned with those tougher standards applicable to equipment from a PIZ/PIBZ.
- SA PQS tip #13: Entry requirements for grape marc have now been aligned with that of winegrapes. Marc sourced from winegrapes grown in a PRZ/PIZ/PIBZ is prohibited entry into SA.
- SA PQS tip #14: Machinery imported into SA must have been located continuously in an interstate PEZ for the previous 6 months to not require mandatory sterilisation prior to entry.
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What is biosecurity?
Biosecurity is a system to reduce the risk of entry, establishment and spread of pests, diseases and weeds that threaten the economy and environment. It’s also a system for managing and recovering from an incursion of a pest and disease by minimising its impact through eradication, containment and ongoing asset protection. Biosecurity is a shared responsibility – we need to work collaboratively.
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