Draft Biosecurity Science, Research and Technology Strategy for New Zealand - Mahere Rautaki Putaiao Whakamaru

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Public Consultation: 8 November 2006 – 28 February 2007

Executive Summary

The draft Biosecurity Science, Research and Technology Strategy for New Zealand (the Strategy) addresses the expectations of The Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand 2003 by providing guidance, with respect to priority science needs, for biosecurity science funders providers and users.

The Strategy recognises that biosecurity science is a very broad subject area that needs to address all economic, environmental, social, and cultural, values. The Strategy also acknowledges that achieving good biosecurity outcomes is dependent on multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approaches and co-operation across the whole science system.

Three key areas have been identified as needing development, and three goals have been formulated to support these. The three key areas are firstly, development needs for future direction for biosecurity science and recommendations for prioritising science needs into the future. Secondly, there is a need to ensure New Zealand has the capability and resources to deliver that science, and thirdly the strategy seeks to ensure the science delivered is used appropriately to improve biosecurity systems.

The draft strategy identifies a number of challenges for the current biosecurity system. These challenges include the need to prioritise science needs and be more proactive in pushing risk offshore, the need for more effective and efficient border controls, the need for improved planning, integration and communication in the delivery of science; and the need to ensure research outputs can be used effectively to improve biosecurity operations and decision making.

To address the expectations of The Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand 2003, and the gap between the current and desired future state, the Strategy establishes three high level goals for biosecurity science:

  • Goal 1:

Science direction: to provide clear research direction for biosecurity science, now and into the future;

  • Goal 2:

Science delivery: to ensure we have the capability and the resources for the timely and effective delivery of biosecurity science; and

  • Goal 3:

Science uptake: to ensure science is responsive to biosecurity needs and priorities and that uptake is timely and effective.

These goals are intended to guide all government agencies and biosecurity stakeholders in decision-making about biosecurity science. The Strategy provides a high level overview of the role of these agencies to give an indication as to where responsibility for implementation of actions in the Strategy may lie and clarifies funding principles. The Strategy also identifies objectives, action areas and more specific supporting actions for each goal and identifies priorities to focus resources.

All action areas and actions were prioritised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Biosecurity New Zealand, because not all activities can be implemented at once. The action areas will guide enhanced strategic planning, resource allocation and investment of research activities for all biosecurity science stakeholders. Further detail is provided in the roll out plan which will provide guidance for the implementation of all actions over the next 25 years.

The proposed priority action areas for science direction focus research on preborder and border activities which will mitigate risks before these reach our border. These will help further secure our borders through prevention, prediction and surveillance activities.

Science direction priorities will:

  • forecast and develop responses to emerging biosecurity risks;
  • understand characteristics of known damaging pests and diseases;
  • analyse risk pathways and vectors for entry and dispersal of pests and diseases;
  • develop methods for managing risks offshore;
  • develop enhanced capabilities for inspection and detection;
  • develop improved treatment technologies;
  • develop cost-effective surveillance tools and methods;
  • develop an understanding of human behaviour in creating and managing; biosecurity risks;
  • develop an ongoing prioritisation process to identify and agree research priorities across the system.

Science delivery priorities will:

  • target resources to the areas of greatest need;
  • build capability and capacity to deliver biosecurity science;
  • develop and strengthen international relationships.

Science uptake priorities will:

  • ensure efficient access to current biosecurity science information;
  • develop processes to improve communications between science providers and end users;
  • identify opportunities for improved biosecurity from new technologies.

The Biosecurity Science, Research and Technology Strategy represents a significant step forward in providing priorities and guidance for science to underpin and transform New Zealand’s biosecurity system.

The full document is available as a PDF: draft-science-strategy.pdf Link to PDF document (1227 KB)

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Page last updated: 30 April 2008