December 26, 2025
Every year, cargo ships bring goods — and hidden threats — to BC’s shores. Stowing away on these ships are forest pests, such as the spongy moth or sudden oak death, capable of unleashing ecological and economic devastation. Traditional inspections can miss them. Genomics doesn’t.
With support from Genome BC, researchers have developed portable, DNA-based diagnostic tools that enable border agents and nursery inspectors to identify invasive species with speed and precision, often from nothing more than a smear of plant tissue or an egg case.
This genomic approach, refined through the bioSAFE project, now helps the Canadian Food Inspection Agency act before a threat spreads. It proved its value when sudden oak death was detected in BC nurseries. Rapid testing enabled early containment, averting what could have become a catastrophic outbreak.
For BC’s forests — and the $14B sector they support — early action is everything.
