28 February – 3 March 2010

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

 

 

Biosecurity has become a major economic issue of concern to governments, agricultural industries and environmental organisations worldwide.

Despite its wide impact and complexities the opportunities for scientific exchange (among researchers and industry) has until now, been limited.

Global Biosecurity 2010: safeguarding agriculture and the environment provided a forum for stakeholders from across the biosecurity spectrum, including researchers, industry representatives, policy makers, primary producers and importers/exporters, to:

  1. workshop, network and exchange knowledge on agricultural and environmental biosecurity
  2. facilitate engagement and cross-fertilisation of ideas between researchers and their end-users (industry, regulators and other end-users), and
  3. build cross-disciplinary networks across all biosecurity related disciplines.

The program focused on agricultural and environmental biosecurity and included conference streams examining:

DRIVERS — What makes biosecurity so important?

THREATS and IMPACTS — Understanding risks is the first step in analysing and planning to address biosecurity issues.

KNOWLEDGE — Accessing the right information at the right time can be a challenge, with so many agencies and organisations involved across the biosecurity continuum. What information is available, how are you sharing it and what systems underpin it?

SYSTEMS — Policy, regulation and operational procedures underpin all biosecurity planning and responses. Is a best practice approach possible?

Effective biosecurity measures are vital to keeping agricultural industries, environment and community healthy, and enhancing market access for food and feed exports. Biosecurity is everyone’s business.

The convening of a major international conference in Australia with a focus on agricultural and environmental biosecurity is recognition of the global standing of Australia’s institutions in this area, and the important role that Australia can, and should, play in biosecurity science.

Science-based risk management is a key platform of an effective biosecurity system which needs to operate effectively across the pre-border, border and post-border continuum.

Global Biosecurity 2010 provides an outstanding opportunity for representatives from biosecurity agencies, research organisations, agricultural industries, environmental organisations and other relevant stakeholder groups to keep up-to-date on world’s best practice.

Tapping into the collective expertise of those attending the Global Biosecurity 2010 conference will help enhance the ability of Australia and all participating nations to effectively manage biosecurity roles along the continuum, protect and improve their pest status and facilitate trade, travel and community development.

Rob Delane
Director General
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

 
 

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