Defra has published the government’s Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain (2023 to 2028).
The result of cooperation between the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Forestry Commission, the strategy is underpinned by a commitment “to co-ordinate our approach towards plant biosecurity and in recognition of our collective responsibility to respond to these challenges and protect our plants and trees”. It also builds on the consultation that was run in 2021.
The strategy outlines numerous policy outcomes that the government wants to achieve:
- Develop a UK Plant Health International Action Plan from 2022 to 2025.
- Work with the UK plant health schemes to develop a new 5-year roadmap for the plant health certification schemes.
- Develop a Horticulture Strategy for England that will examine the roles of small, large and emerging growing models across edible and ornamental horticulture, to identify and support the growth potential within our domestic sectors.
- Publish a new plant health research priorities document in 2023.
You can read the government press release about the strategy here.