FARM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A TOOL FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

National and international trade is critical to our industry as we seek to introduce new plant varieties and open up new markets, but market access is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive as agencies seek to manage biosecurity threats. Biosecurity management is both an industry responsibility and an essential tool in protecting our industry from pest, disease and weed incursions. Biosecure HACCP is the NGIA (Nursery & Garden Industry Australia) industry specific biosecurity program which has been developed for growers to manage current and future pest, disease and weed risks. The program, which is an extension of the NGIA Nursery Production Farm Management System (FMS), has been proven to improve product quality and process efficiencies when implemented and has recently been accepted by regulatory state bodies as a self-certification market access tool. This is a first as the NGIA is the only industry in Australia to have an industry owned and managed market access device approved by government regulators. The program has also received an award of recognition by the federal Department of Agriculture. In explaining the Farm Management System, and specifically Biosecure HACCP, growers will develop an understanding of what it involves, why the scheme was developed, and importantly how best practice can improve product quality, yields, process efficiency, and returns. Explaining the process in becoming accredited from a grower’s point of view will provide insight to the benefits of the program but also issues encountered in obtaining and administering the program. Exporters, importers, wholesalers and consumers will also gain an understanding of the assurances that can be attained by purchasing product from accredited businesses and how supporting such a scheme can both protect their market and potentially provide easier market access in the future.