Biosecurity and One Health
About
Agricultural systems and public health are increasingly exposed to biosecurity risks. The incidence of zoonotic diseases and plant pathogens is rising, invasive species are spreading, antimicrobial resistance is increasing, and climate change is altering the distribution of pests and disease vectors. Global trade adds further complexity, as the movement of goods and people accelerates the spread of threats. These pressures jeopardise productivity, biodiversity, and food security, while also putting public health at risk.
What are the biosecurity challenges in agriculture?
The decade ahead will bring significant challenges for agriculture and food systems, including:
- Scaling up surveillance systems for early detection and rapid response to plant and animal diseases
- Managing invasive species that disrupt ecosystems and reduce crop yields
- Addressing antimicrobial resistance in farming systems before it undermines food safety and animal health
- Predicting and responding to climate-driven changes in pathogen distribution and pest behaviour
- Strengthening policies and regulations to prevent, contain, and respond to biosecurity threats
- Training a skilled workforce to deliver integrated One Health solutions that connect human, animal, and environmental health
Without sustained investment in research, technology, and people, biosecurity threats will continue to grow in frequency and scale, impacting both agriculture and communities.
How can we help solve these challenges?
At ANU, we are tackling these challenges through our focus on biosecurity and one health, which brings together research, education, and collaboration to protect agricultural systems and public health.
We facilitate projects that are:
- Developing advanced surveillance technologies for real-time disease monitoring
- Using genomics and bioinformatics to track and control the spread of pathogens
- Applying One Health approaches that integrate human, animal, and environmental health
- Building models to assess the impacts of biosecurity risks on agriculture and communities
- Designing resilient farming systems that reduce vulnerability to pests and diseases
- Advising on policies and regulatory frameworks that strengthen Australia’s preparedness and response
ANU offers world-class infrastructure to support this work, including high-containment laboratories for pathogen research, advanced genomics platforms, environmental monitoring tools, and strong expertise in policy and governance. Through partnerships with government, industry, and international organisations, AFII ensures this research delivers real-world impact.
By connecting science, policy, and practice, AFII at ANU is helping safeguard agriculture and public health, building resilience against the biosecurity threats of today and tomorrow.
Partner with us to future-proof your operations. Whether you're seeking strategic insights, technical solutions, or collaborative innovation, we’re here to help you lead in a climate-smart agricultural future.
News and Solutions
From climate negotiations to food systems transformation, PhD candidate Jamie Piroe's experience at the Crawford Fund Annual Conference on Food Security challenged assumptions, sparked new ideas and highlighted the power of systems thinking in creating sustainable food futures.
ANU–CSIRO Digital Agriculture PhD Scholarship recipient Zhao Li used AI and structural biology to uncover how wheat rust pathogens attack crops, generating insights that could help shape future crop protection strategies. A powerful example of how digital innovation is transforming agriculture and building Australia's food future.
Blending Indigenous fire knowledge with cutting-edge science, ANU is restoring degraded grazing land, boosting soil health and productivity. This innovative model strengthens partnerships and creates new pathways for sustainable agriculture and Indigenous-led land management.
Australia faces a narrow window to protect honey bees from Varroa mites. ANU research is tracking feral bees before and after invasion to identify natural resistance, informing breeding, securing pollination, and safeguarding billions in agriculture.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or forever chemicals, have become a global environmental problem, contaminating soil, groundwater and even our food. Read about the space research applications into water treatment plants to help stop the spread of PFAS into our communities and food systems.
ANU-led research is building a national network of airborne spore traps to detect myrtle rust early. Funded by Australian Government agencies, the system links genetics, weather and location data to protect native ecosystems and inform agricultural biosecurity.