The Grower Support (Biosecurity) Program is delivered by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council.
It is responsible for managing Panama TR4 on behalf of industry through grower support and extension, surveillance, representation in policy discussions and promoting awareness of biosecurity.
The program is funded by grower levies through Plant Health Australia and is delivered in Far North Queensland.
Who we are
Grower Support (Biosecurity) team
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Elisha Farmer
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Maurice Thompson
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Sarah Rowan
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Ajay Emmanuel
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Jazmin Manning
Administration Officer
jazmin.manning@abgc.org.au
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Kim Prins
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Parminder Pabla
Field Officer
Parminder.pabla@abgc.org,au
0419 160 226
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Phil Lansdown
How did the Grower Support (Biosecurity) program come to be?
Panama TR4 Control Program Steering Committee
After the region’s first detection in 2015 Biosecurity Queensland established the Panama TR4 Program, which focused on early detection through surveillance on commercial banana farms in FNQ, and compliance on known infested properties.
With the ABGC co-funding the Panama TR4 Program since 2019, a Management Board of equal government and industry representation was established to deliver and govern the Program’s strategic direction until 30 June 2023.
From 1 July, 2023, the Australian Banana Growers’ Council has managed the disease on behalf of industry and is guided by a Steering Committee. The program is now called Grower Support (Biosecurity), reflecting the move from initial response to supporting industry for the future.