1. University of Greenwich
Preventing and mitigating the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss through biosecurity
Dr. Opi Outhwaite
University of Greenwich

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?

14. 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

15. University of Greenwich
Preventing and mitigating the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss through biosecurity
Dr. Opi Outhwaite
University of Greenwich