Prioritization of absent quarantine pests in Brazil through the Analytical Hierarchy Process.

Introducing an Absent Quarantine Pest (AQP) can cause severe economic, social and environmental impacts, generating food insecurity. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is an excellent tool for prioritizing APQs, allowing countries to better prepare against these threats. This study aimed to determine which AQPs should be prioritized in Brazil. For this, 20 AQPs were selected from the Brazilian official list. The selection was based on pests intercepted by Brazil between 2015 and 2018 and by countries of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, in the international movement of plants. It can be concluded that out of the 20 AQPs studied, 17 are the priority and that the AHP method is effective for this purpose. Other countries from different continents can use this methodology to prioritize PQAs and thus create strategic plans to prevent entry into their territories and economic, social, and environmental impacts.

Prioritization of absent quarantine pests in Brazil through the Analytical Hierarchy Process / Priorização de pragas quarentenárias ausentes no Brasil por meio do Processo de Analytical Hierarchy Process

Abstract Introducing an Absent Quarantine Pest (AQP) can cause severe economic, social and environmental impacts, generating food insecurity. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is an excellent tool for prioritizing APQs, allowing countries to better prepare against these threats. This study aimed to determine which AQPs should be prioritized in Brazil. For this, 20 AQPs were selected from the Brazilian official list. The selection was based on pests intercepted by Brazil between 2015 and 2018 and by countries of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, in the international movement of plants. It can be concluded that out of the 20 AQPs studied, 17 are the priority and that the AHP method is effective for this purpose. Other countries from different continents can use this methodology to prioritize PQAs and thus create strategic plans to prevent entry into their territories and economic, social, and environmental impacts.

Resumo A introdução de uma Praga Ausente Quarentena (PQA) pode causar graves impactos econômicos, sociais e ambientais, gerando insegurança alimentar. O método Processo de Hierarquia Anal Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) é uma excelente ferramenta para priorizar APQs, permitindo que os países se preparem melhor contra essas ameaças. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar quais AQPs devem ser priorizados no Brasil. Para isso, foram selecionados 20 AQPs da lista oficial brasileira. A seleção foi baseada em pragas interceptadas pelo Brasil entre 2015 e 2018 e por países da European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. Pode-se concluir que dos 20 AQPs estudados, 17 são os prioritários e que o método AHP é eficaz para este fim. Outros países de diferentes continentes podem usar essa metodologia para priorizar os PQAs e, assim, criar planos estratégicos para prevenir a entrada em seus territórios e impactos econômicos, sociais e ambientais.