BIOSECURITY – never has this word meant so much to so many Australians.

COVID-19 showed us just how vulnerable the world is to globalisation and the movement of disease, now our borders are threatened by Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), entrenched in neighbouring Indonesia.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease has the potential to impact cattle, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed species.

Our honey bee industry is under threat as the NSW Department of Primary Industries fights an outbreak of the Varroa Destructor mite.

The NSW Government is now wanting to hear from producers about how best to safeguard our food security.

Primary producers will have the opportunity to provide feedback on a NSW Government plan to safeguard the State’s $21 billion food-and-fibre industry, as part of an upgraded biosecurity strategy.

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the purpose of the strategy was to set a clear vision for biosecurity and food safety in NSW; map strategy objectives for Government, industry, and the community and; outline key activities to guide decision-making for farmers.

“The NSW Biosecurity and Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030 will be our blueprint for protecting the livelihoods, economy and environment against biosecurity and food safety risks,” Mr Saunders said.

“Biosecurity and food safety are shared responsibilities and everybody’s business.

“Recent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease in Indonesia and Varroa mite in NSW have shown us the critical need to be prepared, now and into the future.

“We have been working hard to build NSW’s capability and capacity to manage risk, invest in tools and technologies, and improve how we work together so we can better prevent and respond to threats and minimise any negative impacts.

“Your feedback and insights will help create a strategy we can deliver together to help fortify our economy, industry, environment and community for years to come,” he said.

The draft NSW Biosecurity and Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030 is open for input online, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/draft-bfs-strategy, until Thursday, 1 September 2022.

The Biosecurity Strategy will draw on the concept of ‘One Health’, which recognises the relationship between animal, plant and human health and the interdependencies between optimal biosecurity, food safety, and economic, social and environmental prosperity.

Help protect NSW by reporting any suspect or unusual pests and diseases by calling the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244.

By Marian SAMPSON