Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Minister
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2023-24

    Budget 2023-24

    The 2023–24 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 9 May 2023.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. Bolstering biosecurity in the Pacific region

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

Bolstering biosecurity in the Pacific region

  • Media release
  • Biosecurity
  • International
19 May 2023

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is working in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) on initiatives to address biosecurity challenges in the Pacific region.

These initiatives are focusing on building local capabilities that contribute to animal health and welfare, farm production, exotic disease preparedness, biosecurity, food security, and One Health outcomes.

Exotic animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza threaten regional food security and the livelihoods of small-holder farmers and local communities across the Pacific.

As part of DAFF’s Pacific Engagement Program for Animal Health (PEPAH), the team of veterinarians is supported by funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Solomon Islands Biosecurity Development Program.

Their work in Solomon Islands with MAL is serving to raise awareness of exotic disease threats and help build preparedness, surveillance and risk analysis capabilities. By understanding potential risk pathways for animal diseases, the Solomon Islands are better able to target their efforts.

The DAFF team is also working with an Australian Volunteers Program veterinarian, Dr Nigel Gillan, currently on placement with MAL to build local veterinary and biosecurity capacity ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games. In bringing the Pacific together in Honiara at the end of the year, the Games are also a major test of the Solomon Islands’ biosecurity.

Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Mark Schipp, emphasised the importance of understanding the biosecurity landscape in the Pacific to the effectiveness of prevention, detection and preparedness strategies.

“Livestock is central to the social, economic, cultural, and food security of the Pacific Islands,” Dr. Schipp said.

“The recent spread of African swine fever in the region, coupled with increasing investments in logging and fishing operations, combine to create risk pathways for exotic animal diseases entering the island nation.”

“By supporting regional biosecurity capacity building activities, we can work towards proactively managing the biosecurity risks to the Pacific before they impact on people’s livelihoods and food security. This benefits Australia’s biosecurity, while providing us the opportunity to strengthen our bilateral partnerships with our Pacific family.”

“The department’s work in the Pacific supports delivery of key strategic actions under its Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 roadmap, National Biosecurity Strategy (2022-23), and Pacific Biosecurity Strategy (2022-2027).”

PEPAH's mission is to work within DAFF’s Pacific Biosecurity Strategy to develop enduring, trust-based, and mutually beneficial relationships with Australia’s Pacific family that improve animal health, biosecurity, and food security outcomes.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Contact us

Agriculture:

media@agriculture.gov.au

(61 2) 6272 3232

Related

Image of several plastic-wrapped plant cuttings, seeds, a ruler and a plastic pouch of foodstuffs

$22,000 worth of infringement notices for four passengers attempting to smuggle plant products

  • Media release
  • Biosecurity
09 June 2023
Decorative image

Release of the final report for the prawn risk review

  • Statement
  • Imports
05 June 2023
Decorative image

Fighting the exotic mosquito menace

  • Biosecurity
02 June 2023
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 19 May 2023

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.