Biosecurity In The Making

Biosecurity is the assessment and management of potentially dangerous infectious diseases, quarantined pests, invasive (alien) species, living modified organisms, and biological weapons. It is a holistic concept of direct relevance to the sustainability of agriculture, food safety, and the protection of human populations (including bio-terrorism), the environment, and biodiversity. Biosecurity is a relatively new concept that has become increasingly prevalent in academic, policy and media circles, and needs a more comprehensive and inter-disciplinary approach to take into account mobility, globalisation and climate change. In this introductory volume, biosecurity is presented as a governance approach to a set of concerns that span the protection of indigenous biological organisms, agricultural systems and human health, from invasive pests and diseases. It describes the ways in which biosecurity is understood and theorized in different subject disciplines, including anthropology, political theory, ecology, geography and environmental management. It examines the different scientific and knowledge practices connected to biosecurity governance, including legal regimes, ecology, risk management and alternative knowledges. The geopolitics of biosecurity is considered in terms of health, biopolitics and trade governance at the global scale. Finally, biosecurity as an approach to actively secure the future is assessed in the context of future risk and uncertainties, such as globalization and climate change.

Globally, the way the animal production industry copes with infectious diseases is changing. The (excessive) use of antimicrobials is under debate and it is becoming standard practice to implement thorough biosecurity plans on farms to prevent the entry and spread of pathogenic micro-organisms. Not only in farm animal production, but also in facilities where companion animals are kept, including in veterinary practices and clinics, awareness of the beneficial implications of a good biosecurity plan has raised. The book Biosecurity in Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine is the first compilation of both fundamental aspects of biosecurity practices, and specific and practical information on the application of the biosecurity measures in different animal production and animal housing settings.

This book is based on EU-funded project PLANTFOODSEC, covering intentional and unintentional threats to plant biosecurity and to food safety areas. Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach for analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the environment. Interest in biosecurity has risen considerably over the last decade in parallel with the increasing trade in food and plant and animal products; higher levels of international travel; new outbreaks of transboundary diseases. Although most diseases outbreaks have natural causes or are the result of inadvertent introductions of pathogens through human activities, the risk of a deliberate introduction of a high consequence plant pathogen cannot be excluded. Vigilance is required to identify, prevent and manage new and emerging issues that could impact on production capacity, plant biosecurity or food safety and food chain resilience. /div

The explosive growth of bioeconomy and bioscience, coupled with an interconnected planet increases the potential impact of large-scale bio-events. Either causing public health threats as in epidemics or posing food security issues, from mass poisonings to large-scale starvation, such eventualities are direct threats and indirect destabilizers in a planetary context. The issue of Biosecurity thus pervades every affected aspect, from exploitations of the agro-sector and the food industry to the Public Health management, the novel therapeutic/treatment approaches, the new age of space, deep-sea and subterranean explorations and the interface with the cyber world and the massive or small-scale projection of violence. It has been present since ancient times tacitly and discreetly but only recently took its present guise, the different aspects of which are explored in this book.

Biosecurity: A Systems Perspective provides an overview of biosecurity as a system of related components, actors and risks. This book -- directed to the biosecurity practitioner, generalist scientist and student -- introduces overall features of the biosecurity system while walking the reader through the most up-to-date research on each step of the continuum (i.e. pre-border, border and post-border activities). This book, which explicitly incorporates economic and social dimensions as well as varied decision-making contexts, paves the way for a more systemic approach to biosecurity risk management. The work spans statistics, ecology, mathematics, economics, veterinary science, human medicine and sociology, involving collaborators across government, academia and the private sector. 1) This book uses a broad definition of biosecurity rather than solely focusing on plant health, animal health, security, or one step of the biosecurity system (e.g. surveillance). As such, this book is a one-stop-shop for readers interested in all aspects of biosecurity. 2) The content and language are accessible to a wide range of audiences, including generalist scientists, biosecurity practitioners and graduate students. More complex content is introduced in standalone boxes or chapters. 3) The book follows a clear, simple structure within and among chapters (i.e. following the structure of the biosecurity system), making it a preferred option for graduate students. 4) This book introduces novel cross-cutting themes, such as the importance of economic efficiency and institutional and social factors, going beyond the traditional science-based approach to biosecurity. 5) Written in partnership with government agency practitioners, this book uses on-the-ground case studies to demonstrate how biosecurity principles are applied in practice. 6) The book addresses challenges common to regulators in general, namely efficient regulation in uncertain and rapidly changing environments with multiple stakeholders who have -- at times -- conflicting priorities.

Biosecurity is important for a healthy livestock production; it may be defined as the prevention of disease causing agents entering or leaving any place where livestock including poultry are present. A number of biosecurity measures are available to minimize the risk of introducing and of spreading diseases of which some are zoonotic; i.e. diseases transmissible between animals and humans. This report provides information on biosecurity measures safeguarding animal health and animal welfare and it highlights topics such as barriers and motivation to biosecurity, training and education, value of partnership and economy. Broadly speaking biosecurity describes the process and objective of managing biological risks associated with food and feed production in agriculture and fisheries.

This book is a source of information on practical and innovative approaches to biosecurity surveillance. It explains the foundation and concepts behind surveillance design, with examples of methods and tools created to deal with surveillance challenges. With supporting case studies and including current directions in research, it covers evidence-based approaches to surveillance, statistics, detectability, single and multi-species detection, risk assessment, diagnostics, data-basing, modelling of invasion and spread, optimisation, and future climate challenges.

Arranging the transportation of animals at research facilities is often an ordeal. There is a confusing patchwork of local, national, and international regulations; a perceived lack of high-quality shipping services; a dearth of science-based good practices; and a lack of biosafety standards. It's a challenge â€"and an impediment to biomedical research. Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research Animals identifies the current problems encountered in the transportation of research animals and offers recommendations aimed at local and federal officials to rectify these problems. This book also includes a set of good practices based on the extensive body of literature on transportation of agricultural animals, universal concepts of physiology, and a scientific understanding of species-specific needs and differences. Good practices were developed by the committee to address thermal environment, space requirements, food and water requirements, social interaction, monitoring of transportation, emergency procedures, personnel training, and biosecurity. Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research Animals is an essential guide for all researchers, animal care technicians, facilities managers, administrators, and animal care and use committees at research institutions.