Biosecurity is the newest buzzword to hit Canadian fields—and rightly so. Biosecurity can be defined as a series of management practices designed to prevent, minimize and control the introduction of pests and diseases into a production area or farm, the spread of pests and diseases within the operation and subsequent movement off the operation. Biosecurity is a new term but not a new practice to the potato world, according to Keith Kuhl, president of Southern Manitoba Potato and chair of the Potato Committee of the Canadian Horticultural Council. According to Kuhl, most Canadian farms already have some level of biosecurity measures in place. But there is much more to be done.
Kuhl co-chairs the Potato Sector Biosecurity Advisory Group along with Alain Boucher, national manager of the Potato Cyst Nematode Emergency Section of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The advisory group is working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, CFIA and other industry members to draft a voluntary biosecurity program for the potato industry, and expects to launch a Producer’s Guide this fall. A grower-friendly handbook, the guide will serve as a tool as producers develop biosecurity plans for their farms.
Canadian potato growers are lucky—perhaps not in regard to weather-related issues, but in regard to land quality. “Canadian farmers deal with about an eighth of the biosecurity issues that European producers do,” says Kuhl. “We aren’t an old country, so our problems are not as advanced as other countries’ problems.” That doesn’t mean our biosecurity issues are not increasing with each passing year. That is where the Producer’s Guide comes into play.
“We want to be able to give farmers the information they need to protect themselves and make sure the future generation is set up for success,” says Kuhl. If growers can implement biosecurity plans on their operations, their odds of preventing outbreaks skyrocket—thus improving their bottom line. “As most farms have invested significant amounts in land and equipment, a good biosecurity program should protect their investment,” says Kuhl.
At the end of the day biosecurity issues affect all Canadians, so producers must take responsibility for controlling biosecurity issues on their farms. But Canadian growers are already ahead of the curve. Aided by the new Producer’s Guide, they’ll continue doing their due diligence to ensure they are not only protecting themselves but also future generations from harmful diseases. After all, the best method of action is always proactive action.
Hiten Shah is an account manager for Issues Ink, publisher of Spud Smart.