Pests, Pathogens, and Invasive Species – Oh My!

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Blog Entries

April 20, 2018

The NWT’s first-ever symposium on pests, pathogens, and invasive species took place in Yellowknife April 9-13.

The event was sponsored, in part, by the Department of Industry Tourism and Investment as part of its implementation of the NWT Agriculture Strategy. Several ITI representatives attended and Assistant Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Tracy St. Denis, delivered a speech about the symposium's connection to the NWT's growing agriculture sector. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) hosted the premiere event. ENR and Health and Social Services are also partners in the GNWT’s ongoing promotion and growth of a safe and responsible NWT agriculture sector.

While northern agriculture and agri-fod production has had minimal impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitats to date, our territory’s biodiversity is vulnerable to a number of threats – including invasive species (plants, animals and insects) that could threaten the sustainability of future commercial agriculture initiatives.

The NWT Agriculture Strategy - The Business of Food: A Food Production Plan 2017 is guiding the NWT's evolution from community to commercial food production.

And while many of the key resources are in place – including keen, interested participants; strong community support; public and private investment; and market demand – the legislative and regulatory framework must also be put in place to facilitate the safe, responsible and sustainable development of this sector.

Establishing a council to prevent the spread, help control, monitor and then take action on pests, pathogens and invasive species in the NWT is one such step. The new council, established as part of the symposium, will review and offer recommendations to address pests, pathogens and invasive species in a way that works and takes into account the context of the NWT.

Funding to support the council is part of the GNWT’s investment in NWT agriculture.