What is biosecurity?
Biosecurity is the exclusion, eradication or effective management of risks posed by pests and diseases to the economy, environment and human health.

Why is it important?
Biosecurity is pivotal to the economic and environmental well-being of New Zealand. This is largely a result of the nation's strong dependence on international trade and the significant contribution the productive sector makes to the economy.

As a result, not only does the flow of imports and exports increase the risk of pest incursions but the consequences to national agriculture could be devastating. In 1999, the estimated cost of insect pests, weeds and pathogens to New Zealand was $840 million a year, or one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. The private and public sectors spend about $400 million a year on pest control, while the economy loses about $440 million a year due to existing levels of insect pests, weeds and pathogens.

The cost of pest damage to public conservation lands is additional to this value.

What is the Bio-Protection Research Centre doing?
The Centre has made striking new contributions to biosecurity science in a number of ways, including data-use optimisation in novel modelling systems for insect pests, assessment of weed risks and pioneering effort in the use of DNA barcoding specifically for exotic insects in biosecurity applications.

The existing platform of work offers the prospect of major advances - both in calibre and extent.

The Centre's World-leading Biosecurity Theme has deliberately positioned much of its research at the investigative end of the research spectrum with the clear intention of complementing more industry-focused approaches such as the Better Border Biosecurity B³ programme.

The Theme brings together three interlinked research areas addressing key uncertainties, such as pest evolution and response to environmental change. We offer state-of-the-art tools to meet MAFBNZ's long-term requirements.

More generally, the Centre presents a unique opportunity to integrate the comprehensive knowledge and diverse ability vested in this country's top biosecurity researchers through its partnerships and collaborations.

For information about student prjects, go to: http://bioprotection.org.nz/students-world-leading-biosecurity-theme