Why biosecurity is so important for banana businesses

Posted on by Better Bananas

Why biosecurity is so important for banana businesses

The 2001 incursion of Black Sigatoka and the 2015 incursion of Panama disease tropical race 4 (Panama disease TR4) in the Tully Valley certainly highlight the importance of biosecurity. Unfortunately, unlike Black Sigatoka, Panama disease TR4 cannot be eradicated. As of October 2021, the response over the past six and a half years has successfully limited it’s spread to five commercial banana farms in the Tully Valley. However, it will continue to spread and there is a real risk it could potentially infest other production regions within Far North Queensland and Australia. If you want to sustain a successful banana business into the future, having effective biosecurity practices on your farm has never been more important.

The devastating impact of Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) on a Cavendish plantation in the Philippines. Panama disease TR4 was first detected in Australia near Darwin in 1997 and has since been detected in Far North Queensland in the Tully Valley in 2015. Unfortunately, the disease cannot be eradicated.

So why are bananas so vulnerable and what can we do to protect our banana industry and the fruit that we love to eat? Accounting for 97% of the Australian market, the seedless fruit of the commercial Cavendish banana are sterile and are dependent on clonal propagation from bits, suckers or tissue culture. Growing large monoculture plantations with limited genetic diversity makes them extremely vulnerable to the impact of pests and diseases.    

For decades, breeding programs around the world have invested significant time and resources to find a commercially viable Cavendish variety, comparable to Williams Cavendish, that is resistant to Panama disease TR4. Unfortunately, bananas are very difficult to breed and the search for this ‘holy grail’ continues. This is why on-farm biosecurity is so important! Currently there are no varieties in Australia or the world, resistant to Panama disease TR4 or leaf spot, that can match the productivity of Williams Cavendish.  It may be some time before this is achieved, so why not do everything in your power, to protect what you have now.

The photos on this page show the devastating impact of serious banana plant diseases overseas, where biosecurity is limited. These are just a few examples of serious diseases, either already present in production regions of Australia or on our country’s doorstep, that pose a risk to our commercial banana industry. 

Severe banana freckle (Phyllosticta cavendishii) infestation in a Cavendish banana plantation in Indonesia. In 2013 Banana freckle (Phyllosticta cavendishii) was detected in the Northern Territory. A national response to the outbreak resulted in its successful eradication, with Northern Territory declared Banana freckle free on 1 February 2019.
Black Sigatoka streaks and lesions on banana leaf. Mature leaf symptoms of black Sigatoka are similar to those caused by yellow Sigatoka. The impact of black Sigatoka is through the early death of leaves reducing yield and green life of fruit. There have been several outbreaks of black Sigatoka in Australia, all of which have been successfully eradicated. Australia has been declared free of the disease since 2005.

Assistance is available

If you need help to get started with your on-farm biosecurity or would like assistance to improve on existing practices contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team via email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program ( BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Starting your biosecurity plan

Posted on by Better Bananas

Starting your biosecurity plan

The first step is to understand the potential risk pathways on your farm. Each farms layout is unique, and it may seem challenging if you must consider roads, rivers and railway tracks which pass through your property. The best way is to break it down.  
1.  Grab a map of your farm and a pen. Google Maps is a good source of satellite imagery.

2. Think about all the different ways people, vehicles and machinery move on and off your farm. With these movements in mind divide your farm into zones: exclusion, separation (The separation zone manages movement of essential vehicles entering your farm, as it acts as a buffer between the exclusion and farming zones) and farming. 

3. Choose one point at the edge of each zone where people, vehicles and machinery can move in and out.
4. Then consider what you will put in place at each of these points to cross between zones – e.g. boot exchange, footbath, spray    shuttle, wash-down pad. 
5. Think about water movement and mark down on your map any areas which flood and where you source water from. 
6. Consider where you get planting material from. Do you know the risks associated with the type of planting material you use      and are you happy with this risk?  

Handy tips!

  • Tissue culture from a QBAN approved facility provides the best protection against moving and spreading Panama disease or other banana pests and diseases such as nematodes and banana weevil borer.

  • Some things are always beyond your ability to control, focus on the things you can do.

  • Think of your farm as an airport where everyone needs to enter through a security barrier.  Instead of a metal detector you might have a boot exchange, a footbath or something else which stops an unknown threat from getting in.  

  • Making a start is often the hardest part. Make a list of practices;  start with one practice and work your way down the list as you can. 

  • Start with temporary measures like flagging tape before installing a permanent fence to see if it works first.  

Using aerial maps of your farm is a good way to identify biosecurity risk pathways.
Flagging tape can be used to temporarily mark out zones. This allows you to trial the zones before putting in permanent structures.

Assistance is available

You’re not on your own. The following video features advice from banana growers on starting your biosecurity plan. The National Banana Development and Extension Team is also available to help you get started. Contact our team today via email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Grower case study. Reinventing the pod into a spray shuttle

Posted on by Better Bananas

Grower case study

Reinventing the pod
Spray down with the Randhawa brothers

1000 litre pods can be useful in many ways. After Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) was found in Tully, brothers Paramadeep and Harpreet Randhawa, like many banana growers, recycled one to use as a disinfectant spray down unit at the entrance to their farm.

Paramadeep and Harpreet Randhawa started growing bananas in 2015, the same year that Panama disease TR4 was found in Tully. To help protect their farm, they purchased a pod from a local fertiliser distributor and engaged a local electrical contractor to install a 12-volt pump, hose and spray wand. They used a spare tractor battery to power the pump and installed a solar trickle charger to keep it charged. The whole setup cost around $500 at the time.

Harpreet said, ‘We placed the pod right at the start of the driveway to our shed. The position of the pod is good as I can see it from the packing shed, so I can make sure everyone that comes onto the farm sprays their vehicle down.’ In busy times the pod lasts about a month, so Harpreet tops up the pod with fresh disinfectant mixture as required. 

Disinfectant spray pod located at entrance to farm.

Paramadeep and Harpreet use a quaternary ammonium based disinfectant product which has been shown to be effective in killing the fungal spores that cause Panama disease. They have also installed a water supply to make refilling the pod easier.

The only hitch the brothers have come across is the solar panel doesn’t keep the battery charged when there are long periods of overcast wet weather. On these occasions they just take the battery back to the shed to charge it.

Paramadeep said ‘Make sure that the hose is long enough to be able to spray all around the longest truck that comes onto your farm. We have found that most people that come to our farm follow our instructions to spray down to help us to protect our business.’

Pod located at entrance to farm. Boom gate to restrict unauthorised access.

Thank you to Paramadeep and Harpreet Randhawa who provided their time and gave permission to use this case study for the benefit of the wider industry.

Tips on disinfectants!

  • Use disinfectant products containing Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) or Benzalkonium chloride (BZK). These quaternary ammonium (QA) compounds have been tested and solutions mixed as per the label rate do kill the fungal spores that cause Panama disease.

  • It is important to remove all soil and organic matter before applying any disinfectant product.

  • Research has shown that DDAC and BZK disinfectants used in infrastructure such as spray shuttles, that isn’t contaminated with soil and organic matter, will be effective for an extended period of time when exposed to outdoor conditions. 

  • Easy-to-use test strips can be used to regularly test QA concentration of solutions in footbaths, spray shuttles and wash-down facilities. 

Click here for information on disinfectants.

Download this information as a fact sheet

If you would like further information or assistance with setting up or improving biosecurity practices for your farm, please contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team on email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

This case study has been produced as part of project BA19004 the National Banana Development and Extension Program which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana industry research and development levies, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Grower case study Reinventing the pod into a footbath

Posted on by Better Bananas

Grower case study

Reinventing the pod into a footbath

Steps to help protect your farm from Panama disease don’t need to cost big dollars. There are some great examples of innovative and cost-effective solutions that banana growers have implemented to help manage their biosecurity risk. Something as simple as cutting down a 1000 litre pod to use as a footbath can be a big saving. The banana extension team recently had a chat with a grower about why he uses a pod.

The grower said that he purchased the pod as they are easy to come by with most of the fungicides applied by the aerial operators coming in 1000 litre pods.

1000 litre pod modified for use as a footbath.

‘We cut the supporting frame and the plastic liner down to 200 mm, the same as a normal step, so it was easy to step in and out of,’ the grower said. ‘We then placed a piece of expanded mesh in the bottom of the pod, mainly to prevent anyone slipping’, said the grower. ‘When we started using the pod as a footbath, we found that we had to protect the pod from the mesh with irrigation pipe so that it wouldn’t wear a hole in the plastic. We also put pipe on the edge of the pod to cover any sharp edges,’ the grower explained.

Positioning of any footbath is important. When you walk into the shed the pod is located between a shed wall and the bench seat where you change shoes before walking through the footbath. ‘The pod is also good as it is long enough and wide enough that it is difficult to step over and you need to put both feet in,’ the grower said. There are also signs to direct people to use the footbath.

‘Another point with using a pod is that it comes with a built-in valve, making it easy to drain and clean. If we want to shift the pod for cleaning, we can do that with our forklift,’ said the grower.

Overall, the grower said, ‘We have found that if you make biosecurity easy to do, practices will be followed’.

Pod footbath placed at boot exchange at entrance to shed.

Thank you to the banana grower who provided his time and gave permission to use this case study for the benefit of the wider industry.

Tips on disinfectants!

  • Use disinfectant products containing Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) or Benzalkonium chloride (BZK). These quaternary ammonium (QA) compounds have been tested and solutions mixed as per the label rate do kill the fungal spores that cause Panama disease.

  • It is important to remove all soil and organic matter before applying any disinfectant product.

  • Easy-to-use test strips can be used to regularly test QA concentration of solutions in footbaths, spray shuttles and wash-down facilities. 

Click here for information on disinfectants.

Download this information as a fact sheet

If you would like further information or assistance with setting up or improving biosecurity practices for your farm, please contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team on email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

This case study has been produced as part of project BA19004 the National Banana Development and Extension Program which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana industry research and development levies, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Biosecurity for bananas

Posted on by Better Bananas

Protect your farm today!

There are some simple, cost-effective practices that can be implemented today to reduce the risk of a serious pest and disease impacting your farm. Biosecurity can be viewed as a layered approach; with each practice you apply reducing the risk of a serious pest or disease being introduced onto your farm. Having some practices in place is better than having nothing at all.

Growers often start with simple measures and continually improve their system to further reduce their risk. There are some circumstances where managing the risk is challenging, such as public roads and flooding, however a disease may enter your farm through other risk pathways such as footwear, which can easily be managed. Practices such as zoning, signage, footbaths, disinfectant shuttles, boot exchanges, toolbox talks are all simple things to reduce risk. See below for examples of what growers have implemented.

For some of us, it may also mean a change in how we think about biosecurity. It’s a long-term commitment. Unfortunately, bananas will always be vulnerable to the risk of pests and diseases, so it’s recommended that on-farm biosecurity becomes a part of your daily operational procedures. Some growers have said they think of biosecurity as insurance, that adds value to their business and provides a certain level of assurance. 

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Australian Banana Growers’ Council have developed some fantastic resources tailored specifically for the banana industry. For Queensland and New South Wales growers, the National Banana Development and Extension Team are available to come and visit your farm to help you develop a biosecurity plan or discuss how you can improve your existing practices.  For Western Australian growers the team is available to discuss over the phone or via video link. Contact the team via email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

Get on the front foot with your on-farm biosecurity.

Click here to read why biosecurity is so important for banana businesses?

Click the images below to see what growers have implemented.

Zoning
Signage
Footwear management
Drainage management
Disinfecting facilities
Tips for starting your plan

Biosecurity resources available and tailored for banana growers

National Banana Development and  Extension Team
Email: betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au
Ph: 07 4220 4152

Contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team today if you would like to start or make improvements to your biosecurity plan.

Panama TR4 Protect website
panamatr4protect.com.au

Hosts information on Panama disease TR4 for banana growers, banana workers, service providers and community members. Resources include videos, best practice guidelines, posters, fact sheets, growers’ kits and more!

Better Bananas website
betterbananas.com.au

Hosts information on Australian research undertaken on Panama disease, including information on disinfectants, reducing inoculum, alternative host information, variety screening and development activities and biosecurity.  

ABGC website
abgc.org.au/biosecurity

Australian banana industry website that hosts information on biosecurity, including the Biosecurity Code of Practice available for download. The Code of Practice outlines reasonable and practical steps to minimise biosecurity risks in sourcing and planting banana material within a biosecurity or control zone. It also includes information on industries high priority pests.

Banana best management practices – On-farm biosecurity

A step-by-step guide to assist you to develop your biosecurity plan. Available for download or register to complete online.

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program ( BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Disinfecting and wash-down facilities – grower practices

Posted on by Better Bananas

Disinfecting and wash-down facilities

Disinfecting and wash-down facilities are used to clean and disinfect vehicles and machinery that access your farm and shed. The design and location of these facilities will depend on your farm’s layout and zoning.

Remember, disinfectants can’t penetrate large clods of soil, mud or planting material. Therefore, it’s important that vehicles and machinery are clean prior to being disinfected. With this in mind, disinfecting facilities are used to treat lightly contaminated vehicles and machinery that require access to your shed, for example, trucks that pick-up fruit or deliver goods. Disinfecting facilities range from 1000 litre pod systems to drive through dips and automated spray grids.

A wash-down facility is used to thoroughly wash and disinfect vehicles and machinery that require access to banana paddocks within your farming zone. 

If you would like more information on disinfecting and wash-down facilities refer to page 24 of the Banana best management practices – On-farm biosecurity or contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team via email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

Image gallery of grower practices

Adrian Crema shuttle
Adrian Edgerton
Chris Horseford spray grid
Disinfecting vehicles
Footbath
Image 24 - Wash-down pad (Ergon) 1
Image 29 - Spraygrid waste water contained - Gaia's_2
Image 30 - Spraygrid instructions 1 (Costa's)_Signage
Image 31 - Vehicle Dip (Serra's)
Image 32- dip with roof'
Image 30 - Waste water drained to single point and into sump

Grower case study - Reinventing the pod into a disinfectant spray unit

Thank you to the banana growers who gave permission to use their biosecurity practices as examples for the benefit of the wider industry.

Available resources

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Drainage management – grower practices

Posted on by Better Bananas

Drainage management

Managing run-off water is vital to protect your property and neighbouring properties from potentially contaminated water. Although difficult in the high rainfall environments in which bananas are grown in Far North Queensland, run-off from neighbouring properties should be diverted away from your production area. Practices such as grassed interrows, contouring, laser levelling and sediment traps, will minimise water and sediment movement within and off your farm. For more information on managing run-off refer to page 33 of the Banana best management practices – On-farm biosecurity or contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team via email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

Image gallery of grower practices

Devaney_drain neighbouring property
Howes kay road_divesion banks
Image 3 - Drainage directing run-off water from exclusion zone away from farming zone (Leahys)
Image 39 - Grassed interrows (Horsfords)

Thank you to the banana growers who gave permission to use their biosecurity practices as examples for the benefit of the wider industry.

Available resources

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Signage – grower practices

Posted on by Better Bananas

Signage

Managing the movement of people entering, exiting and working on your farm is essential to reduce the risk of introducing unwanted pests and diseases. Effective signage plays an important role in managing their movement. Carefully consider the wording and placement of signage on your farm to maximise its effectiveness. Ensure contact numbers are current, clearly marked and readable. Bold colours and infographics can help draw people’s attention and communicate key messages. Printable farm gate entry signage is available for download! 

Image gallery of grower practices

Clean boots prior to footbath
Image 2 - Clear signage 2 (Abbotts)
Sign with number
Stop sign at footbath
White boots only stencil
Image 2 - Clear Signage 2 (Leahys)
Image 30 - Spraygrid instructions 1 (Costa's)_Signage
Asian language sign_Wells
Clean boots prior to footbath
Tiger's sign

Thank you to the banana growers who gave permission to use their biosecurity practices as examples for the benefit of the wider industry.

Available resources

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Footwear management – grower practices

Posted on by Better Bananas

Footwear management

Managing the movement of all people entering and exiting your farm is essential to reduce the risk of introducing unwanted pests and diseases. It only takes one dirty shoe to introduce infected soil and/or plant material onto your farm. Implement a robust, easy-to-follow system to manage the risk footwear poses to your property. For more information on managing footwear refer to page 18 of the Banana best management practices – On-farm biosecurity or contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team via email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

Image gallery of grower practices

20171025_120426(0)
Boot brush
Boot exchange
Boot exchange_Chris Horseford
Boot rack in boot exchange
Boots
Finch pod
Footbath 2
Footbath with lid
Footbath3
Image 12 - Footwear Exchange Station (Abbott's)
Image 13 - Foorwear Echange Station (Abbott's)
Image 16 - Footbath (Costa's)
Image 16 - Shoes should be cleaned before walking through a footbath
Image 17 - Footbath Bolinda
Shipping container boot exchange Mackays
Shipping container boot exchange
Footbath_ABGC
Tropicana
Boot scrubber_Flegler

Grower case study - Reinventing the pod into a footbath

Thank you to the banana growers who gave permission to use their biosecurity practices as examples for the benefit of the wider industry.

Available resources

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. 

Zoning – grower practices

Posted on by Better Bananas

Zoning

Zoning is the division of your farm into separate areas (zones), and management of movement between and within these zones. For effective on-farm biosecurity, many banana farms have adopted a three-zone system—exclusion, separation and farming. This helps to restrict movement onto and off your farm, create separation between different farming activities and controls movement on the farm. For more information on zoning refer to page 13 of the Banana best management practices – On-farm biosecurity or contact the National Banana Development and Extension Team via email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4220 4152.

Image gallery of grower practices

Image 23 - Residence Zoning
Image 2 - Clear Signage 2 (Leahys)
Image 6 - Surfaced and fenced separation zone - Copy
Image 8 - Fuel Tank 1
Image 11 - Block wall in the packing shed
Image 20 - Vehicles and machinery can move infected soil and plant material (Crema)
Image 36 - Property boundary with lockable gate 1 (Costa's)
Image 37 - Block wall and fencing to restrict access (Abbott's)
Image 41 - Fencing 2 (Costa's)2
Image 3 - Drainage directing run-off water from exclusion zone away from farming zone (Leahys)
Flagging Tape
Image 9 - Waste located in Separaration zone 1 (Crema)
Image 4 - Surfaced Exclusion Zone 1 (Costas)
Image 4 - Surfaced exclusion zone 2 (Serra's)
Boot exchange_horseford
Fencing Andrew Serra
Image 6 - Waste located in Separation zone 2 (Mackays)

Thank you to the banana growers who gave permission to use their biosecurity practices as examples for the benefit of the wider industry.

Available resources

This resource has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.