A risk realised

JIC depends heavily on its ability to grow large numbers of a diverse range of plant species These are grown in both glasshouses and more sophisticated controlled environment chambers Growing plants under such contained conditions requires careful control of pests and diseases – i.e. managing the risk of loss of the plants

A risk realised Summer of 2006 –A few plants dying – put down to difficulties due to nature of plants or to poor husbandry Summer of 2007 –Many plants dying, mostly one species

A risk realised Arabidopsis

A risk realised Cost to JIC? –Hundreds of thousands of pounds lost in failed experiments –Lost time for staff and PhD students –Could translate into failure to deliver on research grant objectives

A risk realised What caused this? What did we need to put in place? How should we communicate this?

A risk realised Cause? –Presence of a new pest (Western Flower Thrip) –Reduction in chemical control –Slippage in operational standards –Presence of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (transmitted by Western Flower Thrip)

A risk realised Control measures –Biological control (natural predators) –Improved procedures (hygiene and husbandry) –Improve facilities –Controlled access to facilities –Regain use of chemical control –Produce an Implementation Plan

A risk realised How should we communicate this? –Explain to management and the science project leaders how it happened –Gain endorsement of the Implementation Plan (getting the balance right between control and enabling the science to work effectively) –Communicate to all staff – ‘training’ –Revise induction procedures in line with Plan

A risk realised Summer 2006 (we should have been worried) Summer 2007 (grave concern) Summer 2008 (???)