A risk realised

1. A risk realised

2. A risk realised • JIC depends heavily on its ability to grow large numbers of a diverse range of plant species • These are grown in both glasshouses and more sophisticated controlled environment chambers • Growing plants under such contained conditions requires careful control of pests and diseases – i.e. managing the risk of loss of the plants

3. A risk realised • Summer of 2006 • A few plants dying – put down to difficulties due to nature of plants or to poor husbandry • Summer of 2007 • Many plants dying, mostly one species

4. A risk realised Arabidopsis

5. A risk realised • Cost to JIC? • Hundreds of thousands of pounds lost in failed experiments • Lost time for staff and PhD students • Could translate into failure to deliver on research grant objectives

6. A risk realised • What caused this? • What did we need to put in place? • How should we communicate this?

7. A risk realised • Cause? • Presence of a new pest (Western Flower Thrip) • Reduction in chemical control • Slippage in operational standards • Presence of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (transmitted by Western Flower Thrip)

8. A risk realised • Control measures • Biological control (natural predators) • Improved procedures (hygiene and husbandry) • Improve facilities • Controlled access to facilities • Regain use of chemical control • Produce an Implementation Plan

9. A risk realised • How should we communicate this? • Explain to management and the science project leaders how it happened • Gain endorsement of the Implementation Plan (getting the balance right between control and enabling the science to work effectively) • Communicate to all staff – ‘training’ • Revise induction procedures in line with Plan

10. A risk realised • Summer 2006 (we should have been worried) • Summer 2007 (grave concern) • Summer 2008 (???)