Biosecurity and Food Security Marnie L Campbell Chad L Hewitt Biosecurity and Food Security Wicked problems that exacerbate each other?

Acknowledgements Survey participants and respondents Ethics approval was obtained from CQUniversity Human Research Ethics Committee (H11/08_135)

What are Wicked Problems? Wicked problems ≠ Evil problems Resistant to resolution Problem that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognise First coined by Rittel and Webber (1973): 10 characteristics, focussed on social policy planning Solutions need to be collaborative Shared understanding Shared commitment

Darwin’s Nightmare (2004) Incredibly powerful and poignant documentary film Underlying theme of biosecurity failure Placed into the context of Food security Economic security Social justice Globalisation

Biosecurity Managing introduced species We don’t always have solutions Data is deficient 3 values (environment, economics, socio-cultural) Are we missing links between biosecurity and other threats?

Food Security Food security will exist “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life” World Food Summit (1996) 3 pillars (WHO http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story028/en/) Food availability: sufficient quantities on a consistent basis Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation All about (other definitions) healthy food and optimal nutrition Sustainable economic development, environment and trade

Food Security

Food Security

Juxtapose: Biosecurity & Food Security Concepts are not aligned 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress (in 2004) We can’t think about biosecurity when our people are starving Examples Abalone and its food (kelp) in Chile Imported microalgae for aquaculture food (global) Introduced prawn farming in Thailand Nile Perch in Tanzania’s Lake Victoria

Is there a problem? Debates Developed and implemented a survey Not all introductions are bad Aquaculture will help solve food insecurity Yet aquaculture uses a lot of introduced species Developed and implemented a survey Online 22 questions 5 themes

Sample Design Survey themes Survey frame (population) Conservation Philosophy & Biodiversity Ethic Biosecurity background Food security background Food security vs biosecurity Demographics Survey frame (population) Target population (even representation of FS/BS) Conference attendees Listservers Journals Government and non-government agencies

Results Disciplines of respondents Targeted 35 countries Responses from 23 48.8% response rate (n=162) 89 from original emails 73 from snowballing Disciplines of respondents 12% Food security 70% Biosecurity 28% Other

Food Security – the Cloud

Food Security 12% of respondents work in FS 6 themes Food availability* Food access* Other Contamination Food use* Protection 66% of definitions contained the 3 pillars 12% of respondents work in FS 65% FS used 3 pillars 62% BS used 3 pillars

Food Security – Respondents Field of Expertise

Biosecurity – the Cloud

Biosecurity 70% of respondents have worked in BS 62% BS used 3 values 7 themes Environment* Economics* Socio-cultural* Prevention Management Loss of Biodiversity Other 59% of definitions contained the 3 values 70% of respondents have worked in BS 62% BS used 3 values 50% FS used 1 value

Biosecurity – Respondents Field of Expertise

Perceptions by Discipline Are all introduced species bad? No – ‘biocentric’ / ‘anthropocentric’ views χ2[3] = 1.794, p = 0.616

Perceptions by Discipline Is food security important in all countries? Yes χ2[6] = 5.738, p = 0.453

Perceptions by Discipline Does food security compromise biosecurity? Yes χ2[9] = 21.778, p = 0.01

Perceptions by Discipline Does biosecurity compromise food security? Yes χ2[9] = 23.938, p = 0.004

Perceptions by Discipline Which is more important? Equally important χ2[9] = 7.324, p = 0.603

Other Trends Current job What’s more important (χ2[12] = 28.382, p = 0.005)

Other Trends Ecosystem they work on Food security is important to all countries (χ2[5] = 13.685, p = 0.018)

Other Trends Age (generation) No statistical significance across the questions posed EG does FS compromise BS

Implications We know there are examples of where FS and BS act synergistically Food security and Research Higher Degree respondents(especially policy makers) have limited understanding of biosecurity FS do not recognise biosecurity as an issue ‘starving people may be impelled to do things that will compromise social security, including biosecurity’

Implications Food security and biosecurity issues are going to increase through time We need to start the dialogue now to better manage both of these issues in a “win-win” mind-set

Publishing services of REABIC – Open Access journals Slide 2: Publication services of REABIC for experts – three targeted Open Access journals provide platform for information publication by different professional networks http://www.reabic.net/journals/