2022 Australian Biosecurity Awards – Industry
Trevor Ranford
Trevor Ranford has received a 2022 Australian Biosecurity Award in the Industry category.
Trevor is recognised for his contribution to the management of the 2010 to 2020 national chestnut blight emergency response. Over the course of his 45-year career, Trevor has been a passionate advocate for the industries he represents, including Chestnuts Australia Inc., the Pistachio Growers’ Association Inc., Hazelnut Growers of Australia Inc., the Australian Walnut Industry Association Inc., and Summerfruit Australia Ltd.
Despite a difficult beginning and numerous challenges, Trevor was instrumental in building a stronger partnership between Agriculture Victoria and Chestnuts Australia Inc. to ensure practical outcomes for industry for the long-term management of chestnut blight. Trevor and the chestnut industry were adamant that chestnut blight could be eradicated, despite many views that it could not.
Trevor worked proactively with Agriculture Victoria to develop a transition-to-management plan, which enabled the industry to manage chestnut blight. The plan focused on empowering growers to identify and manage the pest on their properties. Trevor successfully recruited an industry biosecurity officer to support field work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria in 2020.
Trevor’s leadership has:
- strengthened awareness of the chestnut industry and the broader community in the management of chestnut blight
- resulted in a sustainable and effective industry-led surveillance program that supports ongoing on-property management of chestnut blight and pest status claims
- enabled the effective management of chestnut blight in a long-term, sustainable manner.
Despite the response officially ending in December 2020, Trevor advocated to secure funding from Agriculture Victoria to support further work on chestnut blight until 2023. Funding will continue to support Chestnuts Australia Inc. and the industry biosecurity officer, under Trevor’s leadership, to identify and manage chestnut blight into the future.
Trevor was also involved in the national emergency response to khapra beetle (2020 to 2022). This response was coordinated by the Australian Government and delivered across 5 states – a first in size and scale for an emergency plant pest response. Trevor was open to the development of a risk-based approach, which led to the establishment of a technical working group focused on national risk pathways and mitigation measures. His continued engagement with the group and open, inclusive approach with technical experts resulted in a practical, risk-based national position that contributed to a multimillion dollar saving in the program.
Trevor Ranford was nominated by Dr Rosa Crnov from Agriculture Victoria.