About
About our research
We aim to build on research efforts from around the world and contribute to the development, testing and harmonisation of the concepts and scientific methods that underpin phytosanitary risk assessment and management.
The standardised methodologies developed through this research can be used to:
- Categorise and quantify how individual phytosanitary measures contribute to reducing risks
- Determine an efficient mix of phytosanitary measures to manage pests of concern
- Validate the efficacy of the selected mix of measures, using qualitative and quantitative models
- Develop comprehensive data packages that support a proposed systems approach for biosecurity risk management
We are also working on tools and quantitative models to bring stronger rigour to the design of phytosanitary measures such as pest monitoring, trap layout and densities, setting corrective action thresholds, and inspection procedures and sampling rates.
By applying consistent rigorous methods, biosecurity stakeholders can build greater confidence in phytosanitary risk management measures and systems.
Our Risk Framework provides the foundation for our phytosanitary risk models and tools:
How can scientific tools support key decision points in the biosecurity risk management process?
The schema below outlines the steps taken to manage biosecurity trade risks, and the relationship between science and decision making. Although this website is relevant to all four steps, its primary focus is on managing pest risks that have already been identified through Pest Risk Analysis. The purpose of the tools is to support the development of combinations of measures that are effective yet least trade restrictive and consistent with IPPC Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Principles.
Further details about the scientific tools developed through our research to support biosecurity risk management and phytosanitary systems approaches can be found on our Tools and Resources pages.