University of Greenwich Preventing and mitigating the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss through biosecurity Dr. Opi Outhwaite University of Greenwich o.m.outhwaite@gre.ac.uk

Regulating for pest and disease risks Frameworks to address risks posed by pests, diseases and pathogens are well established in the fields of plant and animal health and food safety Legal and regulatory measures seek to manage risk through controls Pre-border Border/ point of entry Post entry

Regulating for pest and disease risks Historical development resulted in sectoral regulation focus on agriculture and direct economic impacts

Moving towards efficiency Increased global trade, transport and travel have increased the risks posed by pests, diseases and pathogens enormously Sectoral regulation can reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of risk management

Moving towards efficiency Sectoral regulation also assumes risks respect regulatory boundaries – they do not Animal health, environment, food safety: regulation of pests and pathogens in imported honey Bovine Tb – risk to kept and wild animals and humans Oak Processionary Moth – Invasive species (IAS), plant, animal and human health issues

Climate change, biodiversity loss Pests, diseases, pathogens Diseases, IAS etc impact biodiversity and ecosystems Loss of species Reduced ecosystem stability Climate change effects increase pest and disease risks Warmer temperatures Weather events – flooding, droughts, fires Changes to physiology Responses to environmental change may present pest risks GMOS Biocontrol agents

Biosecurity “Biosecurity is composed of three sectors, namely food safety, plant health and life, and animal life and health. These sectors include food production in relation to food safety, the introduction of plant pests, animal pests and diseases, and zoonoses, the introduction and release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and their products, and the introduction and safe management of invasive alien species and genotypes”(FAO, 2001) “Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach to analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health and associated risks to the environment...Thus biosecurity is a holistic concept of direct relevance to the sustainability of agriculture, and wide-ranging aspects of public health and protection of the environment, including biological diversity”(FAO, 2007)

International Legal Frameworks WTO SPS Agreement MEAS Standard setting bodies: IPPC (plant health) OIE (animal health) Codex (food safety) CBD Cartagena Measures for IAS Environment Trade 'sound science' precaution

Gaining coherence and clarity in the international legal framework No use of the term 'biosecurity' Sectoral divisions prevail Fails to facilitate integrated approach But some developments e.g. zoonoses Conflicting principles – trade and environment

Improving domestic capacity Few countries have adopted a biosecurity approach Domestic frameworks therefore becoming increasingly ill-suited to managing biosecurity risks Adoption of modern frameworks require significant legal and technical capacity and carries substantial resource requirements Need to improve post entry controls including surveillance

Responding to modern approaches to risk Recognition and management of risk central to biosecurity Approaches to risk analysis (lists vs Pest Risk Analysis) based on historical development and can overlook environment aspects– today a more unified approach may be relevant Biosecurity regulation is often reactive – modern approaches to risk could enable more flexible and proactive approach

Integrating environmental dimensions Existing frameworks afford less weight to environmental aspects of biosecurity IAS strategies narrower in scope than biosecurity Entrenched divisions between agriculture and environment must be overcome Draw on synergies and interlinkages between ecosystems approach and biosecurity

Understanding the cost of biosecurity Better accounting for the costs of biosecurity may help make the case for policy and regulatory developments Basis for determining economic costs under international standards is important Approaches such as UK National Ecosystem Assessment attempt to quantify wider benefits & costs Payment for 'public good' services in biosecurity is contentious – could a payment for ecosystem services model be useful?

Conclusions Biosecurity as a strategy for securing healthy ecosystem and biodiversity Biosecurity also important for agriculture, food safety and security, human health and society and the economy more broadly Key is achieving a strategic and appropriately integrated approach Need to overcome entrenched sectoral divisions and ensure regulation reflects scientific and technological advances Need for cooperation, capacity building, political will

University of Greenwich Preventing and mitigating the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss through biosecurity Dr. Opi Outhwaite University of Greenwich o.m.outhwaite@gre.ac.uk