The Grains Farm Biosecurity Program (GFBP) has welcomed Adam Jalaludin as the new grains biosecurity officer (GBO) for Queensland.

Grown across Queensland are wheat, barley, sorghum, maize, chickpeas, faba beans, soybeans, mungbeans and canola, plus speciality crops such as navy beans, lentils and rice.

According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), in 2024-25, winter crop production in Queensland is expected to increase by 68 per cent, reaching 2.9 million tonnes – 41 per cent above the 10-year average compared with 2023-24.

Having worked in agricultural research and crop protection for eight years, Mr Jalaludin has experience in winter and summer broadacre crops and understands the important role best practices play in safeguarding the grains industry from biosecurity threats.

“I’m really keen to build on the great work of previous grains biosecurity officer Kim McIntyre, who retired earlier this year,”  Mr Jalaludin says.

Before joining the GFBP, Mr Jalaludin worked on the Surveillance of Herbicide Resistance Weeds in Australian Grain Cropping project and researched non-chemical weed control practices, such as  chaff tramlining and crop competition.

He also has experience in the  agrichemical industry, having undertaken trials for herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and seed care products in broadacre and horticulture settings.

Mr Jalaludin is passionate about supporting grain growers and is keen to begin his new GBO role, including getting out in the community at upcoming events in the region.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet growers, answer questions and provide information on how to implement sound biosecurity practices on-farm,” he says. He also looks forward to collaborating with his interstate counterparts.

Launched in 2007, the GFBP is Australia’s flagship biosecurity extension program. The program is managed by Plant Health Australia and funded by growers through Grain Producers Australia, with support from Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia state governments.

The GFBP supports the grains industry by:

• developing and distributing grains biosecurity material;
• raising awareness of priority pests,
  diseases and national issues;
• demonstrating simple methods to implement on-farm biosecurity;
• facilitating surveillance data recording; and
• communicating consistent biosecurity messaging throughout the grains supply chain.
• Grain producers in Australia continue  to deal with a dynamic biosecurity landscape full of challenges.
• The GFBP has identified the top five  high-priority pests that can help producers focus their biosecurity efforts on the most critical areas:
• khapra beetle;
• karnal bunt;
• wheat stem rust (Ug99);
• barley stripe rust; and
• wheat stem sawfly.

A variety of practical resources can be found on the GFBP website, including online training, biosecurity manuals, guides, templates, fact sheets and videos, to assist grain growers in identifying and managing biosecurity risks.

Safeguarding  the Australian grains industry

The Biosecurity Plan for the Australian Grains Industry 2023–28 identifies more than 1300 plant pests and potential threats to the grains industry, including exotic, high-priority pests and other pests of biosecurity significance. Intended as a tool for governments and industry, the plan details current activities and highlights new areas for focus and investment to guide preparedness, surveillance and responses.

You can request a copy of the Biosecurity Plan.

More information: Adam Jalaludin, adam.jalaludin@daf.qld.gov.au; Grains Farm Biosecurity Program