By Jim Herdman, Biosecurity Advisor, New Zealand Winegrowers, MRC Budge Street Campus

July’s biosecurity week was a good time for everyone to consider biosecurity and why it is important. When you search the meaning of biosecurity, you will get some good answers like the one below.

Biosecurity is a system to reduce the risk of entry, establishment, and spread of pests, diseases and weeds that threaten the economy and environment. It is also a system for managing and recovering from a pest and disease incursion by minimising its impact through eradication, containment, and ongoing control.

Biosecurity is a shared responsibility. It needs to be a team game, and we all need to work collaboratively.

Over the last year and a half, we have seen a significant effort to keep COVID-19 out of the country. This has been the biggest and most complicated biosecurity effort the country has seen in the past century and has required the team of five million in New Zealand to really step up and play its part.

On the other end of the scale, you can play your part by becoming familiar with pests and diseases that may affect your home, work, or the wider environment. Awareness is one of the key requirements for better biosecurity. If it is not already part of your core work, you could even consider helping with a community project in your area.

If you see anything unusual, Catch It. If you can take a photo Snap It and Report It. Call the Biosecurity New Zealand Hotline 0800 80 99 66.