On National Agriculture Day this week, we're celebrating Australian farmers and highlighting how our biosecurity system supports and helps them grow the quality food and fibre all Australians enjoy.
Each day, people like our biosecurity officer Alessio are on the lookout for countless pests in imported cargo that could harbour diseases.
Alessio's job as a cargo inspector in Western Australia includes inspecting fresh produce and cut flowers, as well as general cargo and imported vehicles, often halting the import of risky material.
A huge part of the work we do is at our seaports and airports to keep out pests and diseases that could gain a foothold here and cause devastation to our agricultural industry and rural communities.
"I love the job I do," Alessio said. "I physically see the goods that arrive into the country, and make sure that what we release is free of biosecurity risk material. Every day I must be satisfied there is no risk with the goods."
Originally from Italy, Alessio has seen the devastation that farmers face from pests and diseases. "I remember we had a few pests like red palm weevil, destroying palms, and Xylella destroying olive trees in Italy. Some of the trees are centuries old," he said.
"It's sad to see the impacts on the industry, people losing jobs. When I think about biosecurity, I think about what's happening in my home country, and that's what I'm helping prevent."
Alessio also trains new biosecurity recruits, teaching them what to look for and the importance of stopping biosecurity risks coming into Australia.
"That's what I explain to the new staff," he said. "Look at what's happening elsewhere, the impact pests have. That's why we need these measures in place. Otherwise we'll spend years and billions of dollars trying to fight exotic pests."
Alessio and our thousands of other biosecurity officers continue to work hard to make sure Australia stays free of pests and diseases that farmers elsewhere in the world have no choice but to endure.
We do this vital work so Australian farmers can get on with the growing.
