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Monthly Bulletin

 

September 2024 

This semi-regular update from the GIA Secretariat is intended to provide a general overview of the key matters considered by GIA governance bodies in the preceding month. It is not intended to communicate formal decisions by any of the parties, nor everything that happens within GIA. If there are any questions, or further information is required please contact steve.rich@gia.org.nz

 

Fruit Fly Council (FFC): 2 September

Key matters discussed were as follows:

  • The Council discussed and further refined the 24/25 programme of work, which is confirmed to include existing projects such as ‘Other Flies’, lessons learned workshop and the establishment of an online information repository for members.
  • New project proposals for 24/25 FY were also discussed and agreed to, in principle, by the Council which spread across research on fruit fly impact on NZ indigenous plants, engagement with Māori and research on domestic movement control.
  • The Council received an update on the progress with the readiness and response supplier contract.
  • The Chair of the Fruit Fly Council shared the outcomes of his most recent funded trip to Australia to attend the Oriental Fruit Fly simulation exercise.
  • The next Fruit Fly Council meeting is scheduled to take place on 27 November 2024.

Livestock Sector Biosecurity Council Chief Executive’s Forum (LSBC CE): 4 September

The LSBC CE Forum met at Biosecurity New Zealand’s Animal Health Laboratory in Wallaceville, Upper Hutt. Following the meeting members conducted a detailed tour of the facility. Key points discussed at the meeting were:

  • New Zealand has gained significant influence in the World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH), holding key roles on its governing council and technical sub-committees. Changes in WOAH code expectations could help resume trade faster after FMD outbreaks, though such agreements remain non-binding.
  • The status of the FMD Work Programme, noting progress in industry-led initiatives and the development of an Industry Chief Executives Playbook, led by Dairy NZ.
  • AsureQuality shared updates on scaling back its direct biosecurity services but provided assurance of its continued support during responses.
  • The importance of disease preparedness in the Pacific region to New Zealand’s biosecurity readiness was emphasised.

FMDOA Development Group: 5/12/20 September

  • The seven GIA Partners developing an Operational Agreement for Foot and Mouth Disease met three times throughout September, to progress the variable elements of that operational agreement. At this stage, finalisation of negotiations in the 2024 calendar year is anticipated.

Traceability OA Governance Group (TOGG): 6 September

  • Participating GIA partners met on 9 September 2024 to discuss progress through the Onside evaluation, RFP progress and timelines through to a December meeting at which decision will be made on the nature of the programme and its continued development.
  • The Onside evaluation project runs through to the end of October with work on data analysis and insights scheduled for November prior to the project’s completion. Grower uptake through vineyards and kiwifruit orchards approaches 40%.
  • An RFP was sent early in August to potential service providers (those who responded to our April ROI) with submissions closing 13 September. Responses will be assessed through late September and next steps established.
  • The group next meets in late October and again early in December.

GIA Operations Limited (GOL): 9 September

The GOL Board met on 9 September 2024 for a planning session. Key points discussed at the meeting were:

  • The current year’s Secretariat objectives alignment with the approved work programme.
  • How the GIA strategic framework will be used to guide activities across the partnership. Key considerations for implementing strategy identified were:
    • The strategy is not directive, but a guide for OA Councils and signatories in aligning work programmes
    • OA Councils’ operational focus may not always link directly to the broader strategy
    • Councils to report on alignment with strategy within annual accountability processes
    • GIA Partners to maintain oversight on readiness and response activities
    • MPI prioritisation methodology to be finalised as an important input.
  • Near, medium, and long-term options for the partnership were discussed, with the outcome of discussions to be presented to the wider partnership ahead of next year’s planning process.
  • In other business, the Board to issued one share in the Company to NZ Plant Producers incorporated, following its completion of a subscription request.

HPAI Workshop: 10 September

  • Representatives from MIA, BLNZ, DINZ, PIANZ, BNZ, and the GIA Secretariat met on 10 September 2024 to discuss how GIA would work in the event of a detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in New Zealand.

Xylella fastidiosa Response OA Development Group (XF ROA Group): 12 September

  • Parties discussed whether enabling variations in public/private cost shares as response circumstances escalate was useful for the Response OA. No consensus was reached, and more work/discussion is needed.
  • The need to better understand how we would react to different detection scenarios, and associated costs, across the bacteria and/or vectors was discussed.
  • The group meets every four to six weeks aiming to have a completed OA by mid-2025.

Lepidoptera Working Group Planning Meeting: 18 September

  • Progress through this year’s workplan and projects was reviewed. All are on track and include:
    • Stock take of diagnostic capability
    • Surveillance status and forward options
    • Readiness and response plans/products across the five Pest injury Guild groupings
    • Communications and engagement plan
    • A plan for how MPI will secure BtK stock, aircraft and ensure regulatory readiness for flying and spraying.
  • Several guests joined the meeting providing insights into their current work:
    • Trapview - Digital monitoring and forecasting of pest insects
    • BNZ lessons learned processing and embedding “in response” and “post response” issues learnings into current and future responses
    • Social license, insights from the White Spotted Tussock Moth and Painted Apple Moth responses and the science of community engagement.
  • The group next meets on 28 November 2024.

Xylella Action Group (XAG): 24 September

  • Updates on 24/25 projects were tabled and discussed
  • Growing awareness of Xylella among growers and supplying nurseries
  • Testing detection scenarios to inform future readiness planning
  • Review and if necessary, improve Xylella Readiness Measures for NZ Nurseries and Growers
  • Pest Identification and beneficiary classification (PIBC) analysis of Xylella subspecies and key Unwanted organism vectors
  • The Scenario Testing project will consider the Operational Specifications and how a response will impact horticultural, greenlife and native plants, likely informing 25/26 workplan elements
  • The group next meets in December and again in March next year where it will consider key workplan activities for the 25/26 year.

​Plant Pass

 NZPPI, as Plant Pass Scheme Manager, has provided the following update:

  • Plant Pass is delighted to publish their second Annual Report, this includes some great case studies from Partners and Certified nurseries Plant+Pass+Annual Report+2024
  • The Spring newsletter has continued to generate great interest in the Pest and Pathogen booklets specifically made for nurseries plantpass.org.nz/biosecurity/news/plant-pass-spring-2024-newsletter
  • The Plant Pass team had a successful trip to Gisborne with great engagement at the workshop hosted at certified nursery, Native Garden. The Plant Pass trade stand was also a valued addition at the Citrus Conference as nursery biosecurity was a key message delivered from their international and local guest speakers.
  • There are two workshops left for the year: 10 October at Rural Design in Mangawhai, and 21 November at Southern Woods in Christchurch.
  • Plant Pass is pleased to welcome the support of three new Partners; New Zealand Winegrowers, Bioprotection Aotearoa and Econet.

 


August 2024 Bulletin

July 2024 Bulletin 

June 2024 Bulletin 

May 2024 Bulletin 

April 2024 Bulletin

March 2024 Bulletin

February 2024 Bulletin 

December 2023 Bulletin 

November 2023 Bulletin

October 2023 Bulletin

September 2023 Bulletin

August 2023 Bulletin

July 2023 Bulletin 


 

 

 

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