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  6. The impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on Australian horticulture and the environment

Secondary ABARES

  • Biosecurity economics
    • Cost of established pest animals and weeds to Australian agricultural producers
    • Potential economic consequences of African swine fever in Australia
    • A benefit-cost framework for responding to Varroa
    • Benefits of increased access to minor use chemicals
    • Biosecurity control strategies for red imported fire ants
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    • Consequences of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
    • Consequences of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak - 2022 update
    • Economic consequences of a scrapie outbreak in Australia
    • Economic impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on the Australian wine grape and wine-making industries
    • Estimating the value of Australian biosecurity arrangements for equine influenza since the 2007 outbreak
    • Farm gate value of biosecurity
    • Potential impact of the wheat steam rust strain Ug99 in Australia
    • The impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on Australian horticulture and the environment

Protecting Australia’s horticultural industries from disease: The impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on Australian horticulture and the environment

Authors: Ahmed Hafi, Donkor Addai, Jay Gomboso, Lucy Randall and Zoltan Lukacs

Overview

Xylella is one of the world's most devastating plant pests and Australia's number one priority plant pest. It is a bacterium, primarily transmitted by insect hosts, that results in yield losses and plant deaths. Following its appearance in Europe, the Australian Government introduced emergency measures to reduce the likelihood of entry of X. fastidiosa in 2015. It also introduced post-border measures to prepare Australia in the event the pathogen and its vectors enter the country.

This report estimates the economic and environmental impacts of 4 subspecies of Xylella fastidiosa (X. fastidiosa) entering and establishing in Australia. The direct economic costs to 21 susceptible crops are estimated and the potential flow-on impacts on sectors dependent on their production are assessed qualitatively. The impacts on the nursery industry and the environment are also described.

The quantitative estimates of the potential costs to the cropping industry have been calculated over 50 years with a discount rate of 3%. For any subsequent assessments of projects to mitigate the risk of Xylella it will be important to consider uncertainties around whether Xylella will enter and the effectiveness of mitigation projects.

Key Findings

Figure 1 Cost of X. fastidiosa, by crop and spread rate over 50 years if all susceptible crops are affected a

: Bar graph comparing 10% and 4% growth in millions of AUD (2017-18 dollars terms) for different horticultural crops.
a All susceptible crops could be affected from any of the entry scenarios involving subspecies fastidiosa, multiplex and all unspecified subspecies.
Note: All dollar values are present values estimated using a 3% discount rate.
  • An incursion of Xylella fastidiosa could cost the Australia horticultural industries between $1.2 billion and $11.1 billion in 2017–18 dollars (over 50 years at a 3% discount rate), depending on the severity of the incursion and its rate of spread. 
  • Significant flow-on effects to primary processing sectors are likely due to the dependence of these sectors on domestic production.
  • An incursion would also affect the nursery industry through damage to plants and from increased compliance costs associated with disease management. Environmental impacts are likely but uncertain in scope and significance.

Download this report

Protecting Australia’s horticultural industries from disease: The impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on Australian horticulture and the environment PDF

Protecting Australia’s horticultural industries from disease: The impacts of Xylella fastidiosa on Australian horticulture and the environment DOCX

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Page last updated: 15 December 2021

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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