Biosecurity Economics
The Economics of Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a gathering storm with antibiotics used to treat animals and humans being rendered ineffective. Despite the emerging threat of AMR, the economic cost of increased resistance has not been fully recognised, especially in resource-based industries such as agriculture and wastewater management. The costs of overusing or misusing antibiotics are not borne by those who cause them and the benefits of action to mitigate AMR may not immediately be felt by the individuals and organisations who need to act. With these challenges in mind, we propose a new way of looking at AMR from an economic perspective in the animal health and wastewater management industries.
You can read our publication here:
For more information, please contact Dr Walter Okelo.
Managing a Foot-and-Mouth-Disease (FMD) Outbreak
The project aimed to provide robust guidelines for responding to an FMD outbreak, including approaches to post-outbreak surveillance and management options for vaccinated animals, to support proof-of-freedom and a faster return to trade. Our CSIRO researchers worked with government and industry stakeholders to design and test response strategies for FMD through simulations and interactive workshops. This project enhanced and used the Australian Animal Disease Spread (AADIS) model to better inform strategic decision-making around managing a FMD outbreak.
You can read our publications here:
- A Simulation Study of the Use of Vaccination to Control Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks Across Australia
- Comparing surveillance approaches to support regaining free status after a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
- Economic benefits of implementing trading zones for Australian livestock disease outbreaks of limited duration
You can read more about the overall project or contact Dr Tim Capon for more information.
Adaptive Area-Wide Management (AWM) of Queensland Fruit Fly (QFly) using Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)
The suppression of QFly using AWM and SIT can only be successful with the alignment of biophysical and socio-economic factors. Economic research formed a vital part of this large multi-disciplinary research project to evaluate the cost-effective delivery and release of the AWM of QFly in the horticulture sector of Australia.
You can read our publications here:
- Willingness to pay for area-wide management and sterile insect technique to control fruit flies in Australia
- Assessing the economic benefit of area wide management and the sterile insect technique for the Queensland fruit fly in pest-free vs. endemic regions of South-east Australia
Contact Dr Sorada Tapsuwan for more information.