More eyes make fewer pests, public urged to protect against invasive pests

Officials with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency used International Day of Plant Health to remind the public of their role to play in keeping invasive pests, like the spotted lanternfly, at bay. ~ Government of Canada photos

By Luke Edwards

They can catch a ride on shoes, in cars, on plants or in firewood. Some can be seen with the naked eye, while others require a microscope or other forms of detection.

But in any form, invasive pests can do damage to local plants, forests and farmers. Protecting our Canadian economy and food supply requires the commitment of not just the people whose job it is to do these things, but the general public as well.

“We really need everyone to help stop the spread of these pests,” said Diana Mooij, program specialist for Invasive Alien Species, Grains and Oilseed Section with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

As farmers were getting ready for another growing season, and plants and forests were coming back to life last month, the United Nations’ International Day of Plant Health offered a reminder of just how important the planet’s flora is to our health and wellbeing. Held every May 12, the CFIA used the day to raise awareness about the threat our plant life faces from pests.

The CFIA may be the “first line of defence,” as Mooij described it, but that doesn’t mean the agency can do it alone. Officials at CFIA do develop regulations and protocols, exert import controls and respond to potential issues.

However, with a large land mass to cover, they can’t be everywhere. That’s why the public is encouraged to be vigilant, take steps to reduce the potential spread of pests, and report sightings.

“Pests are excellent hitchhikers,” Mooij said.

CFIA maintains a strong relationship with farmers and farm industry groups, Mooij said, working with the industry when it develops rules and protocols.

“They want to protect their crops and they don’t want to be a bad neighbour,” she said.

Being proactive is key, and that’s been evident for a pest whose arrival could spell big trouble for Niagara’s grape and wine industry. While an interception was recorded earlier this spring of dead adult spotted lanternflies found in Ontario, Mooij said further inspection found no evidence of the pest at other life stages. That means there are still no recorded established populations in Canada.

However, Mooij said it’s a matter of when, no if. The pest has spread throughout several regions of the United States. It feeds on several plant species, but are of particular concern to grape growers, where they can arrive from a nearby wooded area and wreak havoc on vines.

Even though it will in all likelihood be a losing battle in the sense that infestation will eventually occur, Mooij, who has taken on the spotted lanternfly file, said delaying its arrival as long as possible is vital.

“Slow the arrival as much as possible to allow the science to catch up,” she said.

There are already some pest control products in development and being registered in Canada, giving local growers a leg up that many of their American counterparts didn’t have when the lanternfly popped up unexpectedly.

The CFIA offers many suggestions to growers and the general public to help control the spread of pests. Farmers who grow crops are encouraged to implement crop biosecurity standards. CFIA maintains guidelines for several crop groups.

Travelers are also discouraged from bringing fruits, vegetables, tubers, seeds, plants or soil back with them, as they all carry pests and those pests may not always be visible. Likewise, those purchasing plants, seeds or plant products online should verify the source and check if a phytosanitary certificate or import permit is required. It may not always be clear on retail websites, though Mooij said potential purchases can be verified through an automated import reference system verification service the CFIA maintains.

Finally, members of the public are encouraged to report sightings of pests like the spotted lanternfly to CFIA. Mooij said they respond to every reported sighting.

According to the CFIA press release, plants provide 98 per cent of the oxygen we breath and 80 per cent of the food we eat. Plant-based sectors in Canada contribute $150 billion of GDP, including $33 billion in grains and oilseeds, $882 million in ornamental flowers, plants and trees, and another $36.2 billion in forestry products.