To respond to the rising biosecurity risks facing the grains industry from increased trade and people movements, the Grains Research and Development Corporation partnered with five state government departments to form the National Grains Diagnostic and Surveillance Initiative (NGDSI). This 5-year, $43 million program of work started in 2023 and aims to: (1) increase the adoption of modern quantitative PCR and high throughput sequencing platforms, (2) advance in-field and near-field diagnostic systems for real-time identification of biotic threats, (3) build biosecurity risk profiles, and (4) enhance forecasting of seasonal occurrence, magnitude and distribution of diseases and pests. The NSW component of the NGDSI will produce species-specific diagnostics for 78 exotic pests and diseases. The program will also develop high throughput tools for virus and invertebrate samples and provide a range of new diagnostic tools to provide growers with faster answers to guide management decisions