The Commonwealth Government will invest $400 million over four years to improve on Australia's ability to ensure the health and prosperity of the horticulture industry, the citrus industry alone equaling to more than $500 million of the national economy through its exports.

"A pest incursion has the ability to stop all of this overnight," Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock said.

According to Mr Hancock, a collaborative effort between government and industry is integral to effective biosecurity against diseases and pests, as evident through the eradication of the invasive citrus canker plant disease.

"This joint effort has seen the eradication of citrus canker in Australia this year, due to the dedication of state government departments and industry," Mr Hancock said.

"We welcome further discussion on where investment is needed to protect and grow both citrus and the wider horticulture industry, which benefit regional and rural communities, and boosts the national economy."

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Frank Mercuri, Chairman of Pacific Fresh in Leeton said that it was important Australia remained vigilant about ongoing biosecurity threats.

"It is crucial that we keep out diseases such as Huanglongbing which has already decimated the citrus industry in Florida," Mr Mercuri said.

"Currently, Huanglongbing is only 150 kilometres away from Australia in Papua New Guinea and we can't risk it reaching us here in Australia as there is no current cure".

Provisions for similar preventative measures against potentially devastating pests and diseases such as Huanglongbing and the Asian Citrus Psyllid, which have decimated the citrus industry in the USA and Asia, and are on the nation's doorstep now need to be enforced Mr Hancock said.

"Prevention is critical to the Australian citrus industry, which has a farmgate value of $900 million."

The funding will be split in two, which will see $84 million invested in frontline measures such as detector dogs and enhanced screening technology, and diagnostic capabilities.

An additional $250.9 million will also be invested to improve the nation's ability to detect and manage offshore threats.

And whilst this funding is allocated across four years, Mr Hancock argues that further funding will need to be allocated each financial year to meet the increased amount of passenger travel and international packages and freight, especially as borders slowly open up again post COVID-19.

"There is constant pressure on the system, which means open dialogue between government and all plant industries is crucial to ensure we are prepared," Mr Hancock said.

"The plant industry has arguably more threats than the animal industry and our current resources are stretched to meet this."

Citrus Australia hopes that growers will continue to work side by side to maximise the recent biosecurity funding boost, and will target other priorities to ensure the wider horticulture industry can continue to prosper.

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