Biosecurity plays a vital role in dealing with the ever-changing and evolving threats our forests face.
The 2025 Forest Biosecurity conference will be held at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch from 10 – 11 April.
Enhancing forest biosecurity through technology and innovation.
The conference will explore a variety of issues facing growers and those that work in, or rely on, our forests and investigate how technology and innovation can help to overcome these.
Venue
The University of Canterbury and the School of Forestry are hosting this years conference at:
Rehua 226 – Te Moana nui a Kiwa,
University of Canterbury,
Corner of Forestry Rd and Arts Rd,
Ilam, Christchurch
Draft Programme
Day 1 – Thursday 10 April 12:30pm – 9:30pm
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Welcome lunch |
| 1:30pm – 3:00pm | Biosecurity New Zealand: biosecurity system update |
| 3:30pm – 4:30pm | Keynote Address: Dr Angus Carnegie, senior principal research scientist with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, will be speaking about the important role that innovation and technology is playing in addressing forest biosecurity and health issues in Australia |
| 4:30pm – 5:30pm | Panel Session: pre-emptive Biosecurity Study Tour to the Basque Country and France – sharing observations, lessons learned and implications for forest biosecurity in New Zealand |
| 6:00pm – 9:30pm | Social event and dinner |
Day 2 – Friday 11 April 8:00am – 3:30pm
| 08:00am – 9:00am | Biosecurity updates, strategic research and partnerships |
| 9:00am – 9:45am | Indigenous forest health |
| 10:15am – 11:20am | Molecular technologies and data revolutionising surveillance and monitoring (eDNA, diagnostics, dashboards etc.) |
| 11:20am – 12:30pm | Aerial and remote sensing technology |
| 1:20pm – 2:20pm | Genetics, tree breeding and the tree microbiome for forest health resilience |
| 2:20pm – 3:15pm | Understanding risk and behaviours |
A full conference programme will be confirmed in the coming weeks and be updated on the nzfoa.org.nz website
