Summit to put spotlight on biosecurity

Global Biosecurity Media Relese: February 2010

In an Australian first, key players from across the biosecurity spectrum will come together under one roof to discuss the increasingly complex battle to protect the economy and environment from exotic pests and disease threats.

Global Biosecurity 2010: safeguarding agriculture and the environment will feature the ‘who’s who’ of the biosecurity world, showcasing the latest research in pre-border, border and post-border biosecurity science.

Key note speakers will include Rob Delane, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and Food, WA; Bob Griffin, director of plant epidemiology and the risk analysis laboratory within the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Associate Professor Mick Clout in conservation biology at the University of Auckland; and Dr Angus Cameron, AusVet Animal Health Services.

Greg Fraser, Executive Director and CEO of Plant Health Australia, will also be speaking at the conference.

“Australia’s geographic isolation has meant that we have remained free of many of the pests and diseases that have significantly impacted agriculture industries overseas. This is reinforced by a world class biosecurity system that works to mitigate these exotic biosecurity threats and retain the advantages of being pest-free, such as increased production, reduced operational costs and wide market access,” Mr Fraser said.

“The ongoing protection of our rural industries requires a number of partnerships. It requires partnering internationally, working beyond our borders to reduce the risks coming from overseas. It requires governments and industries working in partnership to ensure that systems are in place for prevention and incursion management. It also requires a partnership between governments, industries and producers to implement on-farm biosecurity measures and surveillance.”

The Global Biosecurity 2010 Conference will provide an opportunity to build on this partnership approach, with experts from government, agricultural industries, research institutions and environmental organisations coming together to share knowledge and build networks.

The conference will be hosted by the CRC for National Plant Biosecurity, Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging Infectious Disease and the Invasive Animals CRC.

The Global Biosecurity 2010 Conference is sponsored by: Horticulture Australia Limited, the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis.

Registrations for the conference are now open. Visit www.globalbiosecurity2010.com

Media contact l Laureta Wallace

P (08) 6250 4561
M 0457 589 703