By Melissa Coleman
The Granite Belt’s hundred-million-dollar apple industry could be at risk if the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has not implemented a high level of biosecurity protocols when allowing for the import of US apples into Australia.
The report released this week has left many in the industry unhappy.
However, the Apple and Pear Australia Limited association (APAL) is currently reviewing the details within DAFF’s final report, promising to share insights with growers in due course.
Southern Downs Regional Councillor Steven Tancred said biosecurity had always been the industry’s major concern.
“There are 20 pests and diseases of concern; however, three are a major threat for our Granite Belt growers,” he said.
There is a risk of Fireblight bacteria, European canker, and a parasite called leaf curling midges.
These parasites and diseases have the capacity to economically stunt the apple-growing industry.
According to DAFF, there’s no effective treatment for fire blight which spreads quite rapidly and easily.
Fire blight can devastate an established crop, and the grower can suffer a massive economic impact.
European canker produces spores that enter fresh leaf scars during wet weather and devastate a crop.
The apple leaf curling midge is an exotic plant pest not present in Australia and is a serious threat to the apple industry.
“If growers’ apples are affected, they can’t swap to vegetables or other fruit because there are a lot of specialist investments such as hail netting and cold stores and packing sheds.
“And the trees take a few years to become profitable; they are a long-term investment,” he said.
Despite this, the good news is that the importation of apples from the US are from the Pacific Northwest region, specifically Washington State, Oregon and Idaho.
Cr Tancred said these places are a drier climate meaning infection by these particular pests and diseases is low.
“We’re a clean and green country, and there are a lot of diseases that the rest of the world has that we don’t.”
Despite these concerns, however, Mr Tancred says agriculture is all for free trade but with adequate protection for industry.
“We cannot stop trade around the world; we are a trading nation that exports a lot of meat, wheat and cotton and other food and fibre.”
“If we put up barriers based on trade, then other countries would put tariffs up and barriers to us,” he said.
More than 10 years ago, New Zealand gained access to Australia to import apples.
“There have been very few apples sent from them into Australia,” Cr Tancred said.
“Firstly, because of the tough biosecurity protocols established and secondly, there are really no gaps in the market.”
“We grew plenty of good apples,” he said.
CEO of APAL, Phil Turnbull, said APAL did not support the importation of US apples due to the substantial threat posed to Australia’s biosecurity.
“Given the recent biosecurity incursions, including Varroa mite and brown marmorated stink bugs, plus the increased threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD), any further work to allow the importation of US apples should be halted.”
“Until the government can guarantee that the right measures are in place to protect Australia’s biosecurity, the government should stop the process to allow the import of US apples to Australia,” Mr Turnbull said.
APAL will continue to work with the government to protect the interests of Australian growers and will lobby the government to ensure that biosecurity remains the top priority.
