The Grains Farm Biosecurity Program has welcomed Kate Glastonbury as the new grains biosecurity officer (GBO) for New South Wales, based in Orange.
GBOs are at the front line of protecting Australia’s second-largest agricultural industry by helping growers manage biosecurity risks at a farm and industry level.
Launched in 2007, the program is managed by Plant Health Australia (PHA) and funded by growers through Grain Producers Australia (GPA) and state governments. NSW has been involved with the program since 2010.
Kate Glastonbury
Each mainland grain growing state has a dedicated GBO who engages with growers, agricultural advisers and the supply chain, focusing on biosecurity prevention, preparedness, surveillance and emergency response.
The program develops key information resources and tools such as farmgate biosecurity signs, fact sheets, communication products and management guides to help the officers raise awareness.
Prior to her new role, Kate was part of the NSW khapra beetle response for 18 months, where she was responsible for managing the sample processing lab and contributed to site surveillance activities.
She has also previously taken part in a high-priority plant pest emergency response relating to the grains industry. This experience has enabled her to gain knowledge in plant pests, as well as understanding the complete process from collecting the samples in the field, to the lab and final reporting.
“I have gained useful skills and knowledge working in the plant pest response that I can share with industry partners such as sample submission processes, surveillance techniques, information about key exotic plant pests and diseases and how emergency responses operate,” she says.
She also has experience working for the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, which provides financial assistance to primary producers and small businesses. Kate worked with growers and the wider agricultural industry as well as those affected by natural disasters.
In her new role, Kate will be instrumental in delivering regional exercises and training with industry and government agency Local Land Services, focusing on exotic grains pests. These activities aim to develop surveillance skills while collecting data to support pest absence and improve preparedness and response capability.
Exploring opportunities for surveillance of exotic pests while spreading the message that biosecurity is a shared responsibility is also high on her to-do list.
NSW growers and industry are encouraged to contact Kate for any biosecurity assistance, to get actively involved in biosecurity and to meet her at forthcoming field days and grower events around the state.
More information: Kate Glastonbury,