New Sampling Hardware for Grains (PDA Smartphones) - Final Report

A high proportion of Australia’s agricultural produce is exported at great benefit to the national economy. The markets receiving this produce demand demonstration of freedom from certain plant pests and diseases and as such, providing proof of absence is critical to maintaining and securing new market access opportunities. Pest surveillance is an important tool in maintaining and opening market access and accordingly, credible evidence to confirm pest freedom status is now the expected norm for importing countries.

This project has shown that pest identification tools delivered via PDA smartphones are an important, robust and adaptable mechanism allowing immediate identification of potential biosecurity threats in the field and supports Australia’s claims of being free of certain invasive pests.