Dr Teulon said the workshop included broad representation from industry and B3 research end users and included, KVH, Zespri, DOC, Dairy NZ, MPI, FAR, NZ Avocado, PFR, FOA, BHNSC, GIA Secretariat and Apples and Pears NZ.

The workshop covered 3 areas:

  • The reason for the CIC, and exploring how additional co-ordinated investment might improve New Zealand’s biosecurity outcome
  • Ongoing B3 projects
  • Potentially new B3 projects (currently being considered by the Science Advisory Group).

Dr Teulon said those attending agreed the meeting was worth having and should become a regular fixture – potentially following on from B3’s annual October Science Partnership Forum.

“It was widely recognised that there is a need for a pathway for co-funding of plant related biosecurity research and that this needed to link up those with current funding, capacity, capability through a centralised system that collects information on who is doing what in the area of plant-related biosecurity research,” Dr Teulon said.

Steve Rich, Manager of the GIA Secretariat, congratulated B3 on its initiative setting up the Co-investment Committee and pledged GIA’s ongoing involvement. “As the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness & Response (GIA) continues to develop, new biosecurity research investment is being commissioned related to a wide range of biosecurity pests and diseases. The creation of a forum to link up funding and providers, and avoid duplication, is a great step forward and will greatly assist the GIA partnership’ said Mr Rich.

Terms of reference for the CIC were drawn up in the middle of 2019 and outline that its’ primary role is for co-investment in B3 research programmes to provide significant outcomes for New Zealand’s plant border biosecurity system.

In particular, the CIC will co-ordinate non-CRI investment as part of the annual development of the B3 research programme. The new process will allow for the formulation of ideas, co-planning, co-prioritisation, co-ordination and alignment (i.e. co-innovation) of investment for plant border biosecurity research in New Zealand. The CIC will also provide a platform for networking and future collaboration in the formulation and development of research ideas.

The current plan is for the CIC to meet formally once a year. For more information on the CIC please contact B3 Director Dr David Teulon: [email protected]