A year after banana plant disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) was detected in North Queensland, talks have begun on the ongoing operations plan.

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has held discussions with Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) on the plan which BQ manages.

ABGC Chair Doug Phillips, Deputy Chair Stephen Lowe, North Queensland director Steve Lizzio and Chief Executive Officer Jim Pekin met with senior Biosecurity Queensland managers in March to discuss the plan’s activities.

The talks were held after the ABGC Board discussed the ongoing TR4 response and confirmed the ABGC would participate in talks on the development of the plan.

Mr Phillips said the ABGC was continuing to represent the banana industry in discussions on the best approach to contain TR4.

“We look forward to being involved in discussions on the actions that will be taking place under the new operations plan. These actions will be of crucial importance to the banana industry and our local banana growing communities as we continue the work to contain TR4 and reduce the risk of it spreading.”

As at the end of March, TR4 was confirmed on one Tully Valley banana farm and had been found in five separate locations on the 166 hectare farm.