Armed & dangerous, biological threats to food security

[bob10]

A disease like wheat rust can cause a famine in large parts of the World, Bob


Armed and Dangerous (http://www.sciencemag.org/content/327/5967/804.full'maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=armed&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT)

[Roverlord off road spares]

After watching a few episodes of Border Patrol on Tv, it is a laugh how when they catch the "Me no speak english, me no understands" smuggling in food stuff and plant material from the old country only get slapped with a measly $200 fine!.:mad::mad: Even though declation cards are available in their native tongue
If all this biosecurity material is a threat, up the antis fine them heavy.
They always understand money.:mad:

[KarlB]

I guess it is important not to let pass a good opportunity to slag off at those we don't like but the more significant biosecurity risks in Australia are associated with commercial importation, and transport (particularly shipping), not with those who claim, at airports, to not speak English, falsely or otherwise.

Interested forumites may like to have a look here: Biosecurity gaps led to 36 invasive species entering Australiasince 2000 | Environment | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/24/biosecurity-gaps-led-to-36-invasive-species-entering-australia-since-2000), here https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/co...whistleblower/ (https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/countryman/a/18151140/wa-biosecurity-disaster-waiting-to-happen-whistleblower/) and here Biosecurity failures in Australia: 12 case studies (http://invasives.org.au/project/case-studies-revealing-weaknesses-environmental-biosecurity/) to get abetter understanding of some significant issues.

People may also not be aware that there have been quite a number of significant biosecurity breaches by ADF personnel returning from overseas postings, both inadvertent and intentional. I would like to think they could all speak English quite well!

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[PhilipA]

Quite a lot of biosecurity breaches are caused by members of the industry involved wanting to get a jump on competitors by smuggling in plant material to multiply privately.

The outbreak of citrus canker in Emerald was strongly suspected as being in this category, as was an outbreak of Foulbrood in bees in NSW.

It takes about 2 years and a lot of money to have new material officially imported , grown out in quarantine and then cuttings taken from the original plants and grown in quarantine. The few plants then have to be multiplied by growing and cutting commercially.
I was involved with the development of Japanese tea in NSW and it took us (NSW Agriculture) that long. Only 30% of the imported plants survived as they must be imported free of soil.
While I was there AQIS showed me a potplant imported from Czech republic which somehow had American High Plains Virus in the soil. High Plains virus is a virulent corn disease which could destroy the small corn industry we have.
For this reason only 3rd generation corn seed is allowed to be imported from only NZ . We may not get the latest supersweet corn very quickly but our industry is safe. BUT there is always some smart arses who think they can be first and smuggle stuff in.
This was also the reason for the ban on NZ apples for many years .Fireblight may not kill apple trees but it sure kills pear trees.

I totally agree it is not Chinese old ladies that are the problem and I wince at the way quarantine goes on at the airport, considering that the major problem is usually the industry itself, and I suspect other members know about breaches but stay quiet in the hope they may be in the "in" group.

What about Panama disease which has broken out right now. This is the ostensible reason we don't let Phillipino bananas in. They will have a good argument to be allowed now.
Regards Philip A