Views on biosecurity and food security as we work toward reconciling an approach that addresses two global problems for a sustainable outcome

Abstract

Biosecurity acts as a safeguard for food security, yet efforts to meet food security targets can exacerbate biosecurity pressures. Our study highlights the critical interrelationship between biosecurity and food security, which is often underrepresented. Decisions favoring either food security or biosecurity involve short- and long-term trade-offs. To work toward a balanced and sustainable approach, it is crucial to understand these links. We examined experts’ views on food security, biosecurity, and their interconnection through a 13-question survey with 162 international experts from 23 countries. Our findings reveal a consensus on the importance of food security but also show confusion in terminology, sociodemographic biases, and a lack of common ground between disciplines. This underscores the need for transdisciplinary approaches to address global food and biosecurity issues effectively, balancing both domains’ interests for sustainable outcomes.