30 September 2025. Brendan Taylor, AgForce Grains President.
As a grain grower, I’ve seen my fair share of challenges over the years—droughts, floods, mice plagues, you name it. But the recent detection of khapra beetle in Australia has really struck a nerve with me, and I know plenty of other farmers feel the same way.
For those who haven’t heard much about it, the khapra beetle is a tiny insect that destroys stored grain. It’s originally from overseas and has already made life tough for farmers in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It loves the sort of climate we have across much of Australia’s grain belt—hot and dry. The beetle doesn’t just nibble at grain—it infests it. At its worst, it can leave grain completely unfit for humans or livestock.
What really worries me, though, is what it would mean for our markets. Australian grain has a reputation for being clean and high quality - and that gives us access to buyers all over the world. If khapra beetle turned up in stored grain here, overseas customers would have every right to slam the brakes on imports.
Then there’s the cost of control. Unlike some pests we can combat with sprays or careful management, khapra beetle is notoriously hard to eradicate. It can survive without food for months, hide away in tiny cracks in silos, and resist many common treatments. That would mean expensive fumigations and tougher storage rules, adding yet another cost to farming at a time when every dollar counts.
The way I see it, prevention is the only real answer. That’s why border security and strong biosecurity checks are so critical. The most recent detection of these beetles was found in imported boxes of nappies, proving they can show up at any time in the most unsuspecting goods. On-farm, we can do our bit by keeping storage clean, staying alert for anything unusual, and reporting if we think something’s not right.
This is bigger than one farm or region. The khapra beetle is a reminder that biosecurity is everyone’s business. For many years AgForce, along with Grain Producers Australia have lobbied for a container levy that puts the majority of the cost for biosecurity on the risk creators, that is the importers. Khapra beetle is just one example of a destructive pest that has hitchhiked its way to Australia on shipping containers. Many other pests and exotic diseases could potentially make their way here and it is critical we strengthen surveillance and inspections of all imported goods.
Australia’s grain industry is valued at $25 billion. We’ve got a lot to lose if pests and disease ever slip through the cracks. For me, protecting our grain industry means protecting our families, our communities, and our way of life. Something has to change. Maintaining our Khapra beetle free status in Australia is critical to the food security of this nation and those who we trade with. And that’s something worth fighting for.