Sugar industry introduces biosecurity plan

The lobby group Canegrowers says the sugar industry is using the lessons learnt from the outbreak of the exotic disease 'smut' to help it plan for the future.

Chairman Alf Cristaudo says the Sugar Industry Biosecurity Plan has been officially released, updating how all levels of government and farming groups will react to any exotic pests or diseases which may affect cane farms in Australia.

He says the new plan will make responding to environmental emergencies much easier, especially after seeing how the smut outbreak was handled.

"It specifically provides for various exotic diseases and the extent to which each party will contribute well before the event occurs so all of that argy-bargy, that can take months when you can't afford days, is eliminated," he said.