Biosecurity A Systems Perspective by Susan M. Hester

Biosecurity: A Systems Perspective provides an overview of biosecurity as a system of related components, actors, and risks. This book--directed to the biosecurity practitioner, generalist scientist, and student--introduces overall features of the biosecurity system while walking the reader through the most up-to-date research on each step of the continuum (i.e. pre-border, border, and post-border activities). This book, which explicitly incorporates economic and social dimensions as well as varied decision-making contexts, paves the way for a more systemic approach to biosecurity risk management. The work spans statistics, ecology, mathematics, economics, veterinary science, human medicine, and sociology, involving collaborators across government, academia, and the private sector.

• This book uses a broad definition of biosecurity, rather than solely focusing on plant health, animal health, security, or one step of the biosecurity system (e.g. surveillance). As such, this book is a one-stop shop for readers interested in all aspects of biosecurity.
• The content and language are accessible to a wide range of audiences, including generalist scientists, biosecurity practitioners, and graduate students. More complex content is introduced in standalone boxes or chapters.
• The book follows a clear, simple structure within and among chapters (i.e. following the structure of the biosecurity system), making it a preferred option for graduate students.
• This book introduces novel cross-cutting themes, such as the importance of economic efficiency and institutional and social factors, going beyond the traditional science-based approach to biosecurity.
• Written in partnership with government agency practitioners, this book uses on-the-ground case studies to demonstrate how biosecurity principles are applied in practice.
• The book addresses challenges common to regulators in general, namely efficient regulation in uncertain and rapidly changing environments with multiple stakeholders who have--at times--conflicting priorities.

Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9 and 14 of this book are freely available as a dwnldable Open Access at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.