The Four Phases of Plant Biosecurity Management

The Four Phases of Plant Biosecurity Management Adapting an emergency management model to protect the U.S. agricultural sector from intentional and unintentional biosecurity events

Contents • Best practice • Preventing intentional and unintentional biosecurity problems • Why an emergency management model? • How does this apply to U.S. agriculture? • The four phases of emergency management • Applying the emergency management principles to plant biosecurity efforts

Part 1: Best practice: proven management strategies for agricultural producers

Best practice - continued This course is built on the premise that “best management practices” by agricultural producers and workers will help fight the threat of agroterrorism, and will also aid in the prevention of unintentional biosecurity problems – those caused by human error.

So why adapt an emergency management model?

Why emergency management? Data collected by state and federal agencies demonstrate that a comprehensive, coordinated, systematic approach is a highly effective strategy for dealing with a variety of emergency situations – both natural and created disasters.

How does anemergency management model apply to U.S. agriculture?

How does the model apply to those in the agricultural sector? As shown in Lesson One, U.S. agricultural systems – from production to transportation, storage, and processing - are highly vulnerable to acts of terrorism. In the event of an agroterrorist attack on U.S. soil, all individuals involved in the agricultural sector must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to quickly and appropriately respond to an emergency.

Part 2: The four phases of emergency management

Preparedness Response Mitigation Recovery The four phases of emergency management are:

Each phase is multi-faceted with numerous individuals involved in every phase of the model Citizens Local Government & businesses Nonprofit and Volunteer groups State Government Regional Government Offices Federal Government

An important note:The four phases are not necessarily sequential “steps.” Mitigation Recovery Response Preparedness

Instead, the 4 phases are ongoing and interconnected; activities of one phase may flow into the others. Preparedness Response Mitigation Recovery

In the traditional emergency management model, activities occurred within the context of natural disasters and catastrophic accidents. Earthquakes Floods Blizzards Preparedness Response Hurricanes Tornadoes Fires Mitigation Recovery Drought Catastrophic Accidents

Weapons of mass destruction Earthquakes Floods Blizzards Preparedness Response terrorism against agricultural systems Crop and livestock biosecurity Tornadoes Hurricanes Drought Fires Mitigation Recovery Catastrophic Accidents Random acts of terrorism In the contemporary emergency management model, new hazards and threats must also be considered.

Now let’s look at definitions for the four phases of emergency management: Preparedness Response Mitigation Recovery

Preparedness Preparedness is any activity that helps an individual or organization to prepare for a timely and appropriate response to a potential hazard, accident, or terrorist event. Key words: prepare for a timely and appropriate response

Response Response is any action taken at any level of the government or private sector in response to the discovery of a potential problem. Key words: action taken in response to the discovery of a problem

Recovery Recovery is a lengthy, concerted effort to return the local community to normal operations after the plant biosecurity event has been effectively contained and controlled. Key words: alengthy, concerted effort to return to normal operations

Mitigation Mitigation encompasses multiple strategies designed to reduce and eliminate plant biosecurity hazards and risks, thus avoiding the consequences associated with a potential hazard. Key words: multiple strategies designedto reduce and eliminate hazards and risks

Part 3: Applying theemergency management principles to plant biosecurity efforts in the U.S.

Individuals involved in agriculture must be engaged in numerous biosecurity activities: Preparedness Response Mitigation Recovery

Agricultural producers work with numerous other individuals in every phase of the model Agricultural producers Other producers and local community groups Extension Service,local government & businesses NPDN (Regional Diagnostic Network) State Government AHPIS (Federal Government)

Preparedness Response Mitigation Recovery With plant biosecurity management, the context for intentional and unintentional threats are considered. Uniform susceptibility and conducive environments WMD used against agricultural systems Unintentional introduction of pathogens (human error) Secure equipment and products

At the center of plant biosecurity management: The producer Preparedness Response Mitigation Recovery

Plant Biosecurity Preparedness Preparedness activities may include • Participating in educational seminars • Creating biosecurity & emergency management plans • Simulation exercises to test response systems • Establishing official notification procedures in the event a potential problem is discovered.

Plant Biosecurity Response Response activities may include • Securing a safe, viable sample • Launching initial containment activities to halt the spread of a potential risk until an official diagnosis is made • Working with specialists in the event that a plant biosecurity problem is officially diagnosed by the proper authorities.

Plant Biosecurity Recovery Recovery activities may include • Destroying diseased plants, vines, or trees • Cleaning affected equipment and facilities • Obtaining government subsidies • Bringing the affected land back into production

Plant Biosecurity Mitigation Mitigation activities may include • Planting resistant varieties • Monitoring/ surveillance/scouting fields • Establishing visitor security measures • Installing fences and security gates • Installing field sensors

For your information . . . Later in this lesson you will have an opportunity to learn more about specific roles for producers in the U.S. plant biosecurity initiative.

For your information . . . If you would like to determine what you have remembered about this presentation, proceed to the Quick Quiz. Remember, this is a self-test for your learning purposes only. Your Quick Quiz score will not be recorded. Now return to Lesson 2, Teaching Scenario 1 Special thanks to Eric Evans of the Fire and Rescue Training Institute at the University of Missouri for his editorial help with this presentation.

The Four Phases of Plant Biosecurity Management