Australia has implemented emergency measures in response to an emerging biosecurity risk to the country’s tomato and capsicum industries, with affected growers called to make difficult decisions.
Harry Kapiris, owner of Gawler River Tomatoes, is one of them.
According to an Advertiser report, Kapiris was forced to dispose around $1.1 million worth of tomatoes after the tomato brown rugose fruit virus was detected in South Australia.
It follows a complete ban issued by the SA government on stock movement from three Adelaide Plain farms, in an effort to prevent the virus spread.
“The State Government is taking immediate action to try and protect our state’s $230 million tomato and capsicum sector,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said in a statement.
“This is not an easy decision, but we have one chance to try to contain this virus.”
As part of its response program, the state’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions put a greenhouse property under quarantine this week after test results confirmed a substantial increase in the prevalence of the virus.
Family business owner Kapiris said the cost of the quarantine could amount to the $3-4m mark, leading him to concede instead to a $1.1 million worth of his tomatoes being lost and laying off 30 of his workers.
“When New South Wales said they wouldn’t take our produce, we knew we couldn’t keep going,” Kapiris told the Advertiser.
“The longer you keep going, the longer you have to keep feeding them and maintaining the crops, and that costs thousands and thousands of dollars a day.”
A taskforce has also been announced by the state government with directions to support impacted workers and growers and minimise the impact of the virus on the industry.
Part of the eradication strategy will require an extensive crop destruction, clean-up, and disinfection effort.
The tomato brown rugose fruit virus is transmitted through propagation materials, including seeds and plants, and can remain infective in contaminated soil for months.
Disease signs on plants affected can include mosaic patterns, yellowing and deformities on leaves, brown wrinkled spots, deformations, uneven ripening and reduced yield.
There is no risk to food safety or human health from eating tomatoes or capsicums with this disease.
The first instance of detection, in August 2024, marks the first time the virus has been confirmed in Australia.
The source of the outbreak remains unknown.
“At the end of the day, what happened to us wasn’t our fault,” Kapiris said.
“The biosecurity authorities are supposed to screen the seedlings that come in from overseas, so it looks like a bad batch has come through.”
Producers are required to report any suspected signs of disease to the national Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881, which will put them in touch with their state or territory biosecurity agency.
