Pre-conference workshop on “Effective regional biosecurity for a changing world”

With specific relevance to biosecurity there is a pre-conference workshop on “Effective regional biosecurity for a changing world” (see flyer attached for more information). The impacts of agricultural pests and disease remains a significant impediment to economic development in many parts of the world. Australia’s pest and disease-free status contributes significantly to the international competitiveness of many key agricultural export sectors and thereby represents a significant source of economic value. Across the Indo-Pacific social, economic and environmental changes drive a steady increase in biosecurity risks (such as, African swine fever and fall armyworm) which are impacting Australia’s near-regional neighbours.

The regional public good properties of biosecurity suggest there should be opportunities to tackle these risks in a coordinated manner, with benefits to Australia and our near-regional neighbours. There is also a need to better understand the total societal cost of disease incursions, above and beyond the impact on export markets, to take an inclusive approach to address regional human, animal or plant disease threats. This symposium will explore the economic case, and future opportunities, for a coordinated regional approach to biosecurity. Insights will be provided by applied economics and policy experts, industry groups, and policy-designers in the Australian Government.