THEME 1

Understanding Risk

Improved tools and methodologies for identifying hazards, assessing risk, predicting impacts and ascertaining where in the system mitigation measures are best targeted for intentional and unintentional introductions.

Theme Scope:

Systems approaches for risk assessment: assess risk at any point along the pathway to determine optimal mitigations and equivalence of treatments
Risk grouping: group organisms for more efficient risk analysis
Future risks: identify emerging risks to prioritise activities
Impact prediction: predict potential impacts of unwanted organisms to inform biosecurity interventions
Improved prediction of the potential impacts of new and wanted organism introductions to enable biocontrol agent applicants to better meet the ‘Minimum Standards’ of the HSNO Act (1996)

Current Projects

Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) and its vectors in the native estate

Lead By Jessica Vereijssen ([email protected]). Duration: Project 1B20.3 runs from 2020 - 2025 (5 Years)

Predicting the spillover of pests and pathogens into natural ecosystems

Lead By Darren Ward ([email protected]) . Duration: Project 1B22.6 runs from 2022 - 2027 (5 years)

Further development of the Integrated Biosecurity Risk Assessment Model (IBRAM) for pathogens

Lead By Nari Williams ([email protected]). Duration: Project 1B22.7 runs from 2022 - 2026 (4 years)

Tackling the threat of invasive Ceratocystis species to Aotearoa New Zealand

Lead By Virginia Marroni . Duration: Project UB24.26 runs from July 2024 to June 2027

Risks from pathogens, pests and weeds in a changing climate

Lead By Craig Phillips ([email protected]). Duration: June 2023 to June 2026

Could an alternative insect host be used in NZ to rear the most promising biocontrol agent for the brown marmorated stink bug?

Lead By Karina Santos. Duration: Project U25.01 runs from July 2025 to June 2027

Crossing Bridges – Operationalising Risk Analysis Tools

Lead By Waka Paul. Duration: Project U24.05 runs from July 2025 to June 2027

Modern technologies to assess environmental risk of introduced weed biocontrol agents

Lead By Arvind Subbaraj . Duration: Project U25.05 runs from July 2025 to June 2026

Projects completed in 2022 / 2023

Supporting pest risk assessments in natural ecosystems

Lead By Barbara Barratt ([email protected]). Duration: July 2019 – June 2022 (3 yr)

Predicting the risks and impacts of Xylella fastidiosa using sentinel plant network

Lead By Ronny Groenteman ([email protected]). Duration: July 2019 – June 2022 (3 yr)

Global change and NZ biosecurity: risks and economics of future climates and trade patterns

Lead By Nicolas Meurisse ([email protected]). Duration: July 2020 - June 2022

Māori and Pasifika indigenous collaboration to identify pre-border biosecurity threats

Lead By Julia Soewarto ([email protected]). Duration: Project B21.4 runs from (June 2021 - June 2023) 2 years

Pest risk evaluation framework – extended to arable, horticulture and forestry industries

Lead By Craig Phillips ([email protected]). Duration: Project B21.3 runs for 2 years, from June 2021 - June 2023

New risk assessment and detection tools for cereal and grass pathogens on the seed import pathway

Lead By Soonie Chng ([email protected]). Duration: Project B22.5 runs from 2022 - 2023 (1 year)

Testing the toolbox – reducing uncertainty around non-target impacts

Lead By Jacqui Todd ([email protected]). Duration: Project 1A22.1 runs from 2022 - 2025 (3 years)

He Waka Hourua: Matāuranga and Western science navigate a safe course for future biocontrol

Lead By Waipaina Awarau-Morris, Ngāti Porou iwi ([email protected]) . Duration: Project 4A22.3 runs from 2022 - 2025 (3 years)

Building bridges to impact from risk analysis research

Lead By Waka Paul and Murray Fea. Duration: Project 1A24.05 runs from July 2024 to June 2025

View all current projects

Theme 1 Leader

John Kean

Phone: 07 838 5658 Email: [email protected]