Matt McKnight, General Manager for Biosecurity at Ginkgo Bioworks and expert in biological threats, discusses the pressing need for a comprehensive global monitoring system to counteract biosecurity risks. He emphasizes the importance of international cooperation to manage both accidental and malicious biological events. The conversation highlights advances in synthetic biology and their dual-use implications, advocating for proactive frameworks that balance innovation with safety. McKnight also outlines innovative strategies like Traveler Genomic Surveillance to enhance global pathogen detection.