The Bio-Protection Research Centre is a key science partner in Better Border Biosecurity (B3) - an eight-party research collaborative studying ways to exclude, intercept and eradicate plant pests new to New Zealand.

The B3 Diagnostics Theme is led by the Centre's Dr Karen Armstrong. This theme is investigating the use of next generation sequencing and geochemical technologies.

Its objective is to develop molecular techniques as routine investigative tools to help identify difficult organisms, such as insects, nematodes, and plant pathogens in early-life stages.

Such tools are vital to the development and strengthening of New Zealand's plant biosecurity scientific capacity. The project includes a PhD student, based at the Bio-protection Research Centre, who is developing a universal identification system for the leuteoviridae family of viruses.

Funded by the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology, B3 works closely with MAFBNZ, the Department of Conservation, New Zealand's Environmental Risk Management Authority and the Forest Biosecurity Research Council. B3 also partners with the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity, fostering important trans-Tasman plant biosecurity research.

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