Assessment of large-scale plant biosecurity risks to Scotland

Research objectives

• Identify key decision-makers for biosecurity activities and, through dialogue, gauge their level of awareness of pest and pathogen threats, together with their roles, level of responsibility and the scale (local, regional, national and global) of their operation.
• Identify from these key decision-makers the primary factors that influence decision-making relevant for biosecurity (including procurement and other business decisions) and the degree to which biosecurity is already considered or could feature more strongly in future.
• Summarise the major strengths and weaknesses of current biosecurity practices.
• Assess the barriers to more stringent biosecurity.
• Summarise opportunities for enhancing biosecurity including roles for awareness raising, incentives and regulation.