Identifying and managing environmental weed risk in perennial pasture research

The widespread adoption of perennial plants into Australian agriculture is an important strategy to improve adaptability to changing climate and create more sustainable and diverse agricultural systems that are productive. To achieve this, species new to Australian agriculture, and improved cultivars of existing agricultural species are required. To complement this research, an environmental weed risk management strategy (WRM) has been developed specifically for perennial pasture research programs, to minimize risk of new cultivars and land-use systems to natural ecosystems. The strategy incorporates pre-trial screening, weed risk assessment, experimental site hygiene practices, and species management guidelines. The weed risk assessment protocol is operational in a multistate research program, and the other components are in early stages of development. This strategy addresses the need for environmental weed risk management in pasture research programs, and provides an operational environmental weed risk assessment protocol specifically for pasture species.