Climate change is likely to aid the spread of invasive alien species, further threatening agricultural productivity and food security through spread of weeds, pests, and diseases of crops and livestock. The introduction of new and adaptable exotic species for agriculture and to meet increasing demands for biofuels, mariculture, aquaculture, and reforestation presents a particular challenge. Ironically, in some cases, the very characteristics that make a species attractive for introduction under development assistance programs (fast‐growing, adaptable, high reproductive output, tolerant of disturbance and a range of environmental conditions, ) are the same properties that increase the likelihood of the species becoming invasive. Such events are costly; invasives accidentally introduced.
