Impediments to increasing food security in PNG: the case of exotic weed species

摘要

The negative impacts of exotic (introduced) plant species occurring as agricultural weeds are obvious to many communities affected by them. Some exotic plant species that have broken the country's quarantine barriers in the past threaten agriculture today while a range of others threaten the future of our food security. Some exotic plant species are examples of natural time-bombs that will negatively affect our future food security if nothing is done. In addition to negative impacts on agriculture, exotic species pose serious threats to the general wellbeing of citizens, the existence of native plant and animal species and the future of some of our fragile ecosystems. The problems associated with a number of exotic weeds present in PNG and the potential threat posed by others are discussed. A concerted national weed strategy must be developed and implemented to reduce the detrimental impacts of introduced weed species on food security now and for the future.