
Have you ever wondered why egg shelves are bare and prices are soaring? Did you know millions of chickens were culled due to bird flu outbreaks and this wasn’t the first time?
Australia’s biosecurity system faces growing challenges, however could smarter strategies help balance ethics, economics and food security?
4ZZZ's Eliot Rifkin chatted about “Egg availability and Australia's broader biosecurity challenges” with Associate Professor Susan Hester from the University of Melbourne/UNE Business.
For a deep dive...
Here's the link to Susan Hesterʻs bio and published works, the Pursuit magazine article "Could Australia avoid egg shortages with better biosecurity?" as well as her book - “Biosecurity - A Systems Perspective”
...and some background on Avian Influenza in Australia: Risks and Precautions Explained as well as how are birds with avian flu disposed of. Some info from DCCEEW (Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water) on the current H5 Avian Flu.outbreak.
Check this out, if youʻre a bit confused with all the different egg types (pasteurised, free-range, caged...) & labels.
Hereʻs where to familiarise yourself with priority Biosecurity invasives: Australia’s National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases and the Global Invasive Species Program. Check out this map of current biosecurity responses to outbreaks of a range of pests and diseases in Australia
You can make a difference… hereʻs how to get involved as a citizen science:
Feral Scan records pest animal activity in your local area for 14 different species and Weed Spotters Network Queensland which detects new and emerging weed threats before they become established in Queensland.
...and lastly hereʻs some phone numbers to report biosecurity issues:
The Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: 1800 675 888
The Exotic Plant Pest Hotline: 1800 084 881
as well as online reporting of pests, diseases and weeds

Your 11AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Ava, Charlie and Yuchen! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Dan and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 11AM Zedlines with Eden and Alec
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Your 10AM Zedlines with Vivek and Eden
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Your 9AM Zedlines with Alec and Eden
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Your 8AM Zedlines with Alec and Vivek
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Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgie, Lachlan, and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey

Your 9AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey.

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie
Image Credit: Neil Sequira

Your 10AM Zedlines with Mack, Clementine and Livinia

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia, Mack and Clementine

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 11am Zedlines with Sarah and Alannah

Your 10am Zedlines with Niamh and Miko

Your 9am Zedlines with Sarah and Alannah
image: Wikkimedia commons
Your 8am Zedlines with Niamh and Miko
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Your 11AM Zedlines with Yuchen, Dan and Ethan
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Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Charlie

Your 9AM Zedlines with Dan, Yuchen and Ethan
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Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Charlie (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 11AM Zedlines with HG, Sarah, and Eden

Your 9AM Zedlines with HG, Alec, Eden, Sarah, and Vivek

Your 8AM Zedlines with Alec, Vivek, and Sarah

Your 11AM Zedlines with Cass, Hailey and Georgie.

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey.