East Indonesia holds inaugural biosecurity forum
Indonesia is a major gateway to Australia from all parts of Asia and the Pacific and is therefore vitally important for Australia’s biosecurity. The CRCNPB’s work in Indonesia is more important than ever, given that Indonesia is a part of the recent free trade agreement between China and the ASEAN nations. In order to raise awareness of the issues involved, East Nusa Tenggara, an Indonesian province comprising 566 islands, was the location for the first ever forum dedicated to biosecurity issues held in this area.
The event was an initiative of the Australian Indonesian Biosecurity Community Management (AusIndoBIOCOM) research consortium, a group established in 2007. AusIndoBIOCOM comprises eight universities and non-government organisations spread across Indonesia. On July 17, 2010, the Universitas Nusa Cendana (Undana), one of the leading universities in Nusa Tenggara, hosted the forum attended by representatives from government, agriculture, NGOs, community, researcher networks and postgraduate students. CRCNPB researcher and project leader of AusIndoBIOCOM Research Consortium, Professor Ian Falk from Charles Darwin University, was invited to give the keynote public lecture entitled, ‘Biosecurity issues for sustainable food production in the tropics: A focus on Indonesia’.
Also, present at the forum was leading researcher on the AusIndoBIOCOM team, staff member of Undana and CRC PhD scholarship holder, Mr Wayan Mudita. Mr Mudita said the aim of the forum was to inform East Nusa Tenggara communities of the importance of food security for the sustainability of local food production.
“The forum is expected to enhance communities’ awareness about the dangers of biosecurity threats to the security of local food supplies. It is also intended to strengthen the communities’ preparedness to deal with various forms of biosecurity threats. These threats can result from the transportation of agricultural seeds, seedlings, aquacultural material, ornamental plants, fruits, pets, and aquarium ornaments, all activities which people take for granted and are often overlooked,” he said.
During the meeting, Professor Frans Umbu Datta, Vice Chancellor of Undana announced that East Nusa Tenggara through the University will be pioneering a research centre that will specifically study issues related to biosecurity. The establishment of this centre is a major initiative and step in raising the awareness of biosecurity issues in Eastern Indonesia and will help protect the region from biosecurity threats to local agriculture and the environment.
The CRCNPB is dedicated to helping regional communities across Eastern Indonesia to understand the threats posed by biosecurity and the devastating impacts an incursion may have.
Article courtesy of Ian Falk
