Abstract
Research Highlights: This research advanced understanding of stakeholder relations within the context of innovation using citizen science in a biosecurity sociotechnical system (STS) in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Background and Objectives: It draws on recent experiences in the United Kingdom, where analysis of stakeholder engagement in the development of biosecurity surveillance technologies and citizen science initiatives have occurred to support understanding and development of forest and tree health biosecurity. Early detection technologies are essential as biosecurity risks to the primary sectors increase with the expansion of global trade and shifting pest dynamics that accompany a changing climate. Stakeholder engagement in technology development improves the chances of adoption but can also challenge the mental models of users in an existing STS. Materials and Methods: Two conceptual models that embed stakeholder relations in new information and communications technology (ICT) design and development were applied: (i) a future realist view of the general surveillance system incorporating citizen experts as species identifiers; (ii) a social construction of the ICT platform to surface mental models of the system in use creating the groundwork for evolution of stakeholder relations within STS innovation. A case study demonstrating how we addressed some of the practical limitations of a proposed systems change by applying sociotechnical innovation systems (STIS) theory to the development and adoption of new technologies for surveillance in the existing biosecurity system was presented. Results: Opportunities to enhance the capacity for early detection were considered, where the needs of diverse factors within a central government biosecurity authority and the wider citizenry are supported by the development of a general surveillance network (GSN).
Highlights
We discussed the importance of revisiting assumptions about the existing biosecurity system in the process of sociotechnical innovation of diverse research stakeholders and of the researchers
As experienced biophysical and social science researchers working in biosecurity, we constructed two conceptual models of the sociotechnical system through interaction with stakeholders during the early stages of our research development
This research aimed to engage stakeholders in the improvement and enhancement of the existing biosecurity general surveillance system in New Zealand. It contributes to discussions about the development of forest and tree health biosecurity through the initiative of the forestry and horticulture sectors co-investing in sociotechnical innovation of general surveillance
Summary
If successful, the network could incorporate real-time analytics to deliver spatially explicit alerts and provide feedback to individuals on observations made Such improvements would increase the overall capacity of the existing biosecurity surveillance system, and enhance learning experiences of technology users, extending across a range of biosecurity settings. As part of targeted post-border surveillance, thirteen surveillance programmes are operated by Biosecurity New Zealand (a government agency), often termed ‘active’ surveillance, to monitor for high-risk pests, at high-risk locations, and of vulnerable groups of plants and animals in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems [31] These programmes are managed to maximise early detection probabilities for new incursions and to facilitate trade into overseas markets by confirming New Zealand’s pest- and disease-free status. Notoriously difficult, is crucial as it is one of the best predictors of eradication success and minimises eradication costs [32,33]
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