Assessment of large-scale plant biosecurity risks to Scotland from non-specialist and online horticultural sales

computer with plant
Retail horticulture is a large-scale industry in the UK, with ornamental horticulture and landscaping worth an estimated £24.2 billion national GDP in 2017. The industry is characterised by a large volume of individual transactions and the transport of a diverse range of plant materials (with accompanying soil and packaging) to a highly distributed set of final destinations (households). These horticultural sales represent a complex and pervasive vector network, which carries the risk of transportation of pests and pathogens to surrounding parks and gardens, agricultural systems, woodlands, forests and the wider environment. The diversity of the plant material in trade and the multitude of suppliers and recipients creates a major challenge for managing biosecurity. This project will identify decision-makers, their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours relating to plant health, and assess opportunities and barriers to better plant biosecurity and the potential role of a Plant Health Assurance Scheme.

Impact: This project will enable policy to identify and prioritise plant biosecurity vulnerabilities from non-specialist and online horticultural sales.
Position:
Social and Economic Research Scientist
Institution: Forest Research
Position:
Forest Pathologist and Programme Manager
Institution: Forest Research
Position:
Sustainability Scientist
Institution: University of St Andrews
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Environmental Economist
Institution: Fera Science Ltd
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Social Scientist
Institution: Forest Research
Position:
Social Scientist
Institution: Forest Research
Position:
Plant Pathologist
Institution: The James Hutton Institute
Position:
Economist
Institution: SRUC
Position:
Paleo-ecologist
Institution: University of St Andrews