Post on 08-Oct-2020
Implementing the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain
Nicola Spence Chief Plant Health Officer
Our five-year strategy
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Defra’s five-year strategy Purpose
Unleashing the potential of food and farming, nature and the countryside, championing the environment and protecting us all from natural threats and hazards.
A cleaner, healthier environment which benefits people and the economy
Objectives
A nation protected against natural threats and hazards, with strong response and recovery capabilities
A world-leading food and farming industry
A thriving rural economy, contributing to national prosperity and wellbeing
An organisation continually striving to be the best, focused on outcomes and constantly challenging itself
Excellent delivery, on time and to budget and with outstanding value for money
Themes
Delivering our priorities internationally (including EU reform, US and China)
Better domestic regulation Data availability and utilisation Boosting UK productivity
Plant Biosecurity Strategy
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Expert Taskforce Report
2013
Plant Biosecurity Strategy
2014
Tree Health Management Plan
2014
• An overall approach to tree health in England
• Management approaches for Chalara, Phytophthora and OPM
• A framework for managing future threats to tree health in England
The Plant Biosecurity Strategy
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Risk-Based Decision Making
Increased awareness and stakeholder involvement
Pre-Border Border Inland
Overarching principles
Biosecurity Continuum
Actions
Underpinning Requirements
International working
Risk-based inspections
Targeted surveillance
Contingency plans
Detection and identification
Better protection by EU regime
Share information on pathways and
threats
Collaborate with border
force Build resilience
Evidence
Skills, Capability and Capacity
Protecting GB from plant and tree threats
Numerous challenges • Increasingly globalised trade • Increasing imports of nursery stock, trees, mature plants and wood packaging • Increasing risks from pests and diseases • Direct sales – internet, post • Pressures on industry to minimise costs and losses Collaborative work as part of our published strategies and • Work with suppliers and exporting countries to tackle pests at source to minimise their risk of arriving in GB • Support the supply of cleaner plants and plant material • Increase awareness with trade and public
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A strengthened EU Plant Health Regime
1. Faster decision-making (to get ahead of new pests) 2. Better risk targeting including:
• More focus on higher risk plants for planting • New requirements to assess risk from new trades
before they start • Registration of all plant traders • Strengthened plant passporting regime • Better practical collaboration between plant health
services (plant health / inspectorates / customs) and simpler passenger baggage controls
3. More controls on direct sales 4. Shared responsibility and joint working with UK Plant
Health Advisory Forum 6
Risk-Based Decision Making
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Risk register progress
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600
620
640
660
680
700
720
740
760
780
800
Jan-‐14 Feb-‐14 Mar-‐14 Apr-‐14 May-‐14 Jun-‐14 Jul-‐14 Aug-‐14 Sep-‐14 Oct-‐14 Nov-‐14 Dec-‐14 Jan-‐15 Feb-‐15 Mar-‐15 Apr-‐15 May-‐15 Jun-‐15
Number of Pests on the Risk Register
Priority pests
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Forestry Pests 29%
Non-‐Forestry pests 71%
Forestry versus Non-‐Forestry
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
Other
ParasiHc Plant
Mite
Oomyceye
Phytoplasma
Bacteria
Nematode
Virus or Viroid
Fungus
Insect
Pest Type
Risk ratings 0 - 125
10
732
45
10
Number of Pests by Mi:gated Risk Ra:ng
<45
45 -‐ 64
> 64
Priority actions
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19
26
34
37
51
59
62
64
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
DeregulaHon
PRA
ConHngency Plan
Management by Industry
Targeted Survey
Research
RegulaHon
Publicity
Number of Pests per Priority Ac:on
Targetted Surveillance
Extensive arial surveys conducted over large areas of land -‐
Surveillance technology
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Detection and diagnosis methods
Real-time PCR = high throughput
DNA barcoding = identification
LAMP - Genie = on-site
Detection at point of inspection
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LAMP for Ash die back
• LAMP is now being performed routinely by FC inspectors for Chalara fraxinea
Oak Processionary Moth • Caterpillars feed on oak trees,
and can weaken the tree. • Additional risks as hazard to
human and animal health • In 2014 UK obtained protected
zone status to help manage threats from the pest.
• 3 year pilot control programme led by Forestry Commission is in operation
• Current strategy based on mixed approach of containment and eradication
• Management through chemical treatment, nest removal, surveys and surveillance (inc. pheremone traps)
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OPM National situation
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OPM outbreak
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Chalara fraxinea distribution
2012 2013 2014 2015 Total % of squares
Scotland 7 5 33 120 165 15
England 82 60 162 137 441 30
Wales 0 1 6 24 31 11.7
N I
0 0 0 0 0 0.0
UK (total)
89 66 201 281 637 22.5
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10 Km grid squares with one or more infections in the wider environment
Ash tolerance trials
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Fraxinus americana in Suffolk
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Kent 15 June
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Unusual galls on sweet chestnut
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Identification 17th June
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Oriental chestnut gall wasp: Dryocosmus kuriphilus
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Distribution
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Modelling and surveillance
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24 June
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Action 24 June
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Farningham 23 July
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Citizen science - Observatree
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© 2015
St Albans 24 June
2 July
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Parasitoids
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Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Chelsea Flower Show 2015
Approx. 60-70% of visitors had heard of at least one plant pest or disease vs. less than 20% of visitors in 2013.
Approx. total news media reach: 34 million
Chelsea Flower Show ‘Beyond our Borders’
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Plant Health Skills and Careers 1. Plant Health taught in GCSE Biology Sept 2015 2. Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance to promote plant health as a desirable career 3. Internship portfolio to stimulate work based learning for current graduates to experience career opportunities and encourage graduate entry into plant health 4. National Plant Biosecurity Curriculum to identify and help meet stakeholders’ skills’ requirements 5. Plant Biosecurity training modules in collaboration with Harper Adams University and regional workshops hosted by the HDC in Plant Biosecurity for 2016 6. Plant Health Professionals register underpinned by the Royal Society of Biology launch in Sept 2015
Na:onal Plant
Biosecurity Curriculum
Visible Plant Health career pathway
established
Plant health science is a ‘valued’ and an a\rac:ve
career
Plant health science is a ‘valued’ and an a\rac:ve
career
Future priorities and actions
• Independent evaluation of OPM control by Spring 2016
• Review of options for OPM for 16/17 and beyond • Review of Phytophthora ramorum control • Review of National Measures for Chalara and
deployment of tolerance • Suppression of Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp • Revise Tree Health Policy in England with future
management approaches for key tree pests and diseases.
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Thank you for your attention
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