The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) is committed to delivering value to Queensland’s banana industry by supporting growers through proactive surveillance, education and best-practice biosecurity.

ABGC’s surveillance team has successfully completed surveillance of 154 properties within a targeted 38km ‘buffer zone’, representing almost 67% of farms in this area.

This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between growers and the industry, and demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting our banana-growing regions.

Every property visit is also an opportunity to reinforce the importance of on-farm biosecurity. One of the most critical components of effective biosecurity is decontamination.

By consistently demonstrating best practice, ABGC Field Officers aim to minimise risk, but also to encourage confidence in practical biosecurity measures.

ABGC has a rigorous decontamination procedure that is followed at every property the surveillance team attends, without exception.

This includes:

• Parking company vehicles offfarm wherever possible, either in designated visitor parking areas or near the road, to avoid unnecessary vehicle movement onto properties.
• Establishing a dedicated decontamination station adjacent to the vehicle before entering the property.
• Thoroughly sterilising clean boots prior to entry and changing into site specific PPE.
• Upon exiting the property, changing clothing at the vehicle and sealing all worn clothing in plastic bags for laundering back at the office.
• Carefully scrubbing and disinfecting boots to ensure all soil and organic debris is removed before leaving the site.
• Photographing each stage of the entry and exit decontamination process, with time and date stamps, providing a complete record that is securely stored within the ABGC system.

These procedures are followed meticulously by every member of the surveillance team. Our Field Officers take great pride in maintaining the highest biosecurity standards because they understand that every visit carries a responsibility, not only to the individual grower, but to the entire banana industry.

Surveillance is more than searching for disease; it is a partnership with growers. It provides reassurance, strengthens preparedness, promotes best-practice biosecurity, and helps safeguard the future of Queensland’s banana industry. By working together and maintaining rigorous decontamination standards, we continue to protect farms, livelihoods and the long-term resilience of our industry.