Is your favourite veggie at risk? This virus has hit another state, here's how it could affect your garden
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Gardening enthusiasts and tomato lovers, take heed: a formidable foe has breached the state and is threatening the very heart of Australia's tomato industry.
For the first time, this virus, a pathogen that has already caused significant distress in one part of the country, has been detected in another place’s crop, sending ripples of concern through the agricultural community.
Authorities are scrambling to contain the outbreak, fearing the virus could spread further. The full impact on local farmers and the broader market remains to be seen, but the situation's urgency is clear.
The virus, which has the potential to decimate tomato, capsicum, and chilli yields by up to a staggering 70 per cent, was identified in a glasshouse in the Goulburn Valley, a region renowned for its lush produce.
The outbreak's origins trace back to South Australia, first detected five months ago, affecting three farms, including the state's largest tomato grower, Perfection Fresh.
The implications of this detection are far-reaching. The virus's presence in South Australia led to drastic measures, including mandatory crop destruction and interstate import bans.
While the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) does not pose a food safety risk to consumers, the economic and supply chain repercussions are significant, particularly for a state like Victoria, responsible for approximately 70 per cent of the nation's processing tomatoes.
In response to this agricultural emergency, Victorian authorities have swiftly implemented quarantine controls at the affected glasshouse.
Victoria's chief plant health officer, Dr Rosa Crnov, has assured the public that the situation is contained.
‘We know the pathway that the virus arrived on, so this is a contained situation just to this one particular business, and we've got controls on the business,’ she said.
She attributed the outbreak to seedlings moved from a South Australian business to a Victorian one as part of a 'pilot protocol trial to support trade.'
Despite the established rules limiting plant movement from South Australia, this trial inadvertently opened the door to the virus.
The containment measures include destroying all affected plants and suspending the pilot protocol that allowed the movement of plants between Victoria and South Australia.
‘We're working with our regulators, with the other states and territories, to negotiate movement of fruit from that property that hasn't received seedlings from South Australia,’ Dr Crnov added.
The Australian Processing Tomato Research Council has expressed confidence in Victoria's ability to manage the situation.
Industry development manager Matthew Stewart has reassured the public that the new detection is within controllable parameters and that the risk of the virus reaching field crops is not a concern.
‘Our only risk would be something getting in the field, and we don't see that as a relevant risk at the moment.’ he said.
‘At this stage of our growing cycle, all of our nursery stock has been delivered. It's in the ground [and] we start harvesting probably within a couple of weeks from today.’
As we await further updates, let's take a moment to appreciate the tireless efforts of our farmers and plant health officers on the front lines, safeguarding our crops and, by extension, our dinner tables.
We encourage you to continue supporting local growers and stay informed about the origins of your produce.
The Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was first identified in South Australia. It threatened Australia's $5.8 billion vegetable industry.
This virus targeted tomatoes, capsicums, and chillies, posing no known risk to human health but significantly affecting plant health and crop yields. You can read more about it here.
Have you noticed any changes in the availability or quality of tomatoes and related vegetables in your area? Are you concerned about the potential impact of ToBRFV on your home garden? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and let's discuss the importance of plant health in our communities.
For the first time, this virus, a pathogen that has already caused significant distress in one part of the country, has been detected in another place’s crop, sending ripples of concern through the agricultural community.
Authorities are scrambling to contain the outbreak, fearing the virus could spread further. The full impact on local farmers and the broader market remains to be seen, but the situation's urgency is clear.
The virus, which has the potential to decimate tomato, capsicum, and chilli yields by up to a staggering 70 per cent, was identified in a glasshouse in the Goulburn Valley, a region renowned for its lush produce.
The outbreak's origins trace back to South Australia, first detected five months ago, affecting three farms, including the state's largest tomato grower, Perfection Fresh.
The virus was detected in a Victorian crop, posing a threat to Australia's tomato industry. Credit: Sjoerd van der Wal / iStock
The implications of this detection are far-reaching. The virus's presence in South Australia led to drastic measures, including mandatory crop destruction and interstate import bans.
While the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) does not pose a food safety risk to consumers, the economic and supply chain repercussions are significant, particularly for a state like Victoria, responsible for approximately 70 per cent of the nation's processing tomatoes.
In response to this agricultural emergency, Victorian authorities have swiftly implemented quarantine controls at the affected glasshouse.
Victoria's chief plant health officer, Dr Rosa Crnov, has assured the public that the situation is contained.
‘We know the pathway that the virus arrived on, so this is a contained situation just to this one particular business, and we've got controls on the business,’ she said.
She attributed the outbreak to seedlings moved from a South Australian business to a Victorian one as part of a 'pilot protocol trial to support trade.'
Despite the established rules limiting plant movement from South Australia, this trial inadvertently opened the door to the virus.
The containment measures include destroying all affected plants and suspending the pilot protocol that allowed the movement of plants between Victoria and South Australia.
‘We're working with our regulators, with the other states and territories, to negotiate movement of fruit from that property that hasn't received seedlings from South Australia,’ Dr Crnov added.
The Australian Processing Tomato Research Council has expressed confidence in Victoria's ability to manage the situation.
Industry development manager Matthew Stewart has reassured the public that the new detection is within controllable parameters and that the risk of the virus reaching field crops is not a concern.
‘Our only risk would be something getting in the field, and we don't see that as a relevant risk at the moment.’ he said.
‘At this stage of our growing cycle, all of our nursery stock has been delivered. It's in the ground [and] we start harvesting probably within a couple of weeks from today.’
As we await further updates, let's take a moment to appreciate the tireless efforts of our farmers and plant health officers on the front lines, safeguarding our crops and, by extension, our dinner tables.
We encourage you to continue supporting local growers and stay informed about the origins of your produce.
The Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was first identified in South Australia. It threatened Australia's $5.8 billion vegetable industry.
This virus targeted tomatoes, capsicums, and chillies, posing no known risk to human health but significantly affecting plant health and crop yields. You can read more about it here.
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