Kubota Tractor Australia has won the 2009 Australian Bio-Security Awards for identifying an invasive blue stain fungi and the fast action taken toward containing the biological disease.
The Australian Bio-Security Awards recognise outstanding achievements in safeguarding national bio-security integrity. A record number of 45 nominations were received and Kubota won the national award from four other regional winners.
In a ceremony held at Parliament House on the 26th of November 2009, Mr Greg Vincent from Kubota Tractor Australia was presented the award by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke.
Greg Vincent, Logistics Manager at Kubota Tractor Australia said, “We are very pleased and honoured to receive this Australian Bio-Security Award. Kubota has a global policy focusing on environmental values, and as many of us are from a rural background, we know only to well the detrimental effects that can be caused by introduced pests and disease. So it is definitely something that is close to us and our business”.
“The discovery of blue stain fungi on wooden crates shipped to us from the United States initially was thought to have been about 100 packages, but we ended up de-crating over 1000 to be doubly sure. Not only as a company operating in Australia, but also as citizens of this country, it was our responsibility to take fast action by working with Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services to first of all contain this fungi, and secondly to take action to prevent more of the contaminated wood entering the country” said Vincent.
Kubota Tractor Australia employed extra staff to help the current members conduct a large scale inspection of packaging material in search of this blue stain fungi, and to help trace other shipments that had gone directly to clients.
“Everyone played a role, from our Managing Director quickly contacting key management in the United States as well as keeping Japan informed on our progress, to our forklift drivers and assemblers dismantling crates in order to dispose of them in a biological friendly process. Bulletins were sent to our dealer network to update and inform them of any risks and action required if anything was discovered," says Vincent.
All shipments from the United States to KTA were suspended until they could be assured that associated companies in the supply chain put in new procedures enforcing greater quality control.
Since the initial discovery and action taken, there have been no further cases of blue stain fungi discovered on shipments coming into Australia. However to remain proactive on the biological disease issue, Kubota Tractor Australia are investigating other packaging alternatives including a recently received shipment of tyres packaged on heavy duty, recycled, cardboard pallets.