Plant Industry Forum marks 41st meeting
The Plant Industry Forum (PIF) held its 41st meeting in Adelaide on 20 May 2026, bringing plant industry representatives together to discuss shared biosecurity priorities and emerging areas of work.
PIF connects plant industry signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, providing a forum to share information, raise common concerns and contribute a collective industry perspective to national biosecurity discussions.
A key feature of the meeting was a presentation and discussion with Inspector-General of Biosecurity Dr Melissa McEwen. The session gave PIF members an opportunity to provide direct industry feedback and discuss issues affecting Australia’s plant biosecurity system.
The Inspector-General provides independent scrutiny of Australia’s biosecurity systems and processes. Engagement with Dr McEwen allowed plant industries to share practical perspectives from across the sector and highlight the importance of industry knowledge in reviewing national biosecurity arrangements.
Other agenda items included:
- an update from the Plant Industries Biosecurity Committee
- a presentation from Plant Health Australia on the benefits of biosecurity planning and opportunities for levy investment
- consideration of the Pest Impact Rating system review
- a presentation from Biosecurity Commons on spread and establishment modelling.
Chaired by Nathan Hancock, the hybrid meeting continued PIF’s role in maintaining connections across the plant sector and supporting industry input into Australia’s biosecurity system.