I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Lachlan Dobson from the Ord River Irrigation Area for winning the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award in the plant category at the Farming Ahead Conference this week.

The CRC were pleased to nominate Lachlan for this award as he continually demonstrates strong commitment to biosecurity across the properties he manages, as well as in the community. Lachlan is keen to educate people and raise awareness about the importance of biosecurity and was involved in developing the OrdGuard Regional Biosecurity Plan (the first of its type in Australia and the world).

Among other tactics to raise awareness of biosecurity, Lachlan also provides industry supervision for two of our PhD students. He is also the first non-academic supervisor of a PhD project appointed by Charles Darwin University.

I would also like to acknowledge Plant Health Australia for sponsoring this very worthwhile award which recognises the key role Australian farmers play in maintaining disease and pest free produce, in turn enhancing Australia’s trading position.