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 [1] will be held in Brisbane, Australia from 28 February until 3 March 2010. It will bring together a range of speakers from various organisations to discuss issues around this complex issue.

The Global Biosecurity 2010 conference program is in its final ‘tweaking’ stages and will soon be available on the conference website. In the meantime, you can view a full list of speakers and topics on the conference website

There will be a line up of keynote speakers from Australia, New Zealand and the United States who will share their experience and knowledge across a variety of agricultural and environmental biosecurity issues.

The social program includes a Welcome Reception on Sunday 28 February sponsored by Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. The conference dinner is the highlight of the social program which will be held on the Tuesday evening. The conference dinner will be hosted by Bernie Hobbs; a popular judge on ABC TV’s The New Inventors, and a firm favourite with audiences for her weekly science spots on ABC radio around the country.

The Organising Committee are very grateful for the support of the conference sponsors: Grains Research and Development Corporation, Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.

With the number of registrations coming in, this is shaping up to be a very exciting event and a great platform to share ideas and exchange knowledge on current and new biosecurity science and practice.

I hope to see you there!