Biosecurity concerns the exclusion, eradication and effective management of threats to the economy, environment and human health which are posed by pests and diseases. New Zealand's economy and trade rely on a strong primary production base, and our freedom from major pests and diseases is critical to producing efficiently and trading freely. Ongoing global climate change and its effects on ecosystems make understanding biosecurity issues crucial. As our climate alters, organisms previously unable to survive in our environment may become a potential threat to our ecosystem.

As an emerging issue of both national and international importance, biosecurity provides many career opportunities in government agencies, spear-headed by the regulatory authority the Ministry for Primary Industries. You may also find work in Crown Research Institutes and in ministries concerned with conservation, the environment, agriculture and forestry. District and regional councils also may employ biologists to manage invading organisms.