Plant biosecurity refers to measures that aim to prevent the introduction and spread of pests and pathogens via trade and natural pathways that pose potential risks to plant health. The Government’s 2023 UK Biological Security Strategy, sets out an ambition of the UK being resilient to a spectrum of biological threats by 2030, including “high consequence risks” to plant health.
A recent POSTbrief (51) focused on the risks arising from the introduction of invertebrate animals and pathogens injurious to plants. It uses the term ‘pests’ to collectively describe these and looks at the spread of pests of cultivated and wild plants globally, including forest pests, which pose potentially high impacts for
natural capital, food security, livelihoods, and trade.
We are very pleased that in the POSTbrief it suggests that biosecurity data could be shared via the NBN Atlas.
This comes under “Section 3.2 Role of Citizen Science” where Accessible biosecurity data is discussed.
It states:
“The shift from government to governance in biosecurity creates a more complex network of non-state actors beyond industry, such as NGOs, academics, landowners, gardeners and recreational users of the countryside, whose actions could be informed by data”.
It goes on to suggest that:
“One option that may be cost effective in the UK would be transferring biosecurity from the National Plant Protection Office and Plant Health Service to the National Biodiversity Network Atlas…”
Observing that:
“…while it needs to be at the right granularity to be useful, it may also require anonymity for organisations reporting issues, such as nurseries or landowners”.
We would welcome any such discussion in the future.
The full report can be downloaded from the UK Parliament website.