Safeguarding Our Green Future: Malcolm Catlin on Biosecurity and Plant Health in a Globalised World

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In this episode of Foresight, host Dom Burch catches up with Malcolm Catlin, Project Director at Plant Healthy. Together they delve into key themes surrounding biosecurity in horticulture and the importance of plant health management.
Key discussion points include:
Background and Role of Plant Healthy: Malcolm Catlin shares his journey from food industry roles to leading Plant Healthy. He emphasises the organisation’s formation to address biosecurity by creating the Plant Health Alliance and establishing the Plant Health Management Standard and certification scheme, designed to recognise robust biosecurity practices within the industry.
Biosecurity Threats and Regulatory Frameworks: The conversation highlights significant threats from non-native pests, including ash dieback and Dutch elm disease, and the impact of global trade and climate change. Malcolm discusses the International Plant Protection Convention and other regulatory measures for managing plant imports and exports, stressing the importance of rigorous phytosanitary measures and proactive pest risk analysis to mitigate threats.
Voluntary Biosecurity Measures: The Plant Health Management Standard encourages businesses to exceed regulatory requirements with proactive biosecurity strategies. Voluntary measures, such as pest risk analysis and supply chain monitoring, aim to prevent risks before plants reach borders, offering a framework for consistent biosecurity practices that can reduce costly interceptions.
Future Challenges and Technological Innovation: Dom and Malcolm explore how data-driven technology could enhance risk assessment, helping regulators focus on high-risk imports. The potential of technology in risk management, certification, and real-time analysis is seen as essential for future biosecurity advancements.
Public Awareness and Economic Impact: Malcolm underscores the economic, environmental, and social benefits of trees and plants, valued at £16 billion annually in the UK alone. He advocates for increased public awareness of plant health, positioning biosecurity as a core responsibility within the horticultural sector.
This episode emphasises that biosecurity and sustainable practices are essential in managing the globalised horticulture trade and protecting the natural environment against escalating risks from pest invasions and climate change.