Plant & Food Research is a New Zealand-based science company providing research and development that adds value to fruit,
vegetable, crop and food products.
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Staying on top of the fruit fly threat
Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) is a serious horticultural pest in Australia and one of the most important biosecurity
threats to the horticultural industry in New Zealand.
The insect is capable of infesting more than 100 fruit and vegetable species and is estimated to cost the Australian
horticultural sector around $150 million annually in lost revenue. If the pest became established in New Zealand, it
would create significant problems for the primary sector by damaging crops and causing market access issues.
To manage this ongoing threat, Plant & Food Research and Better Border Biosecurity (B3) are hosting scientists and biosecurity operatives from Australia’s
Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC) and SITplus next week for a week of workshops, meetings and tours.
The workshops will coincide with a meeting of the recently formed New Zealand Fruit Fly Council – a collaboration under
the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) between Government and a number of industry groups acting as the operational
body for fruit fly response and management.
The workshops will include a review of past and current research on invasive fruit fly and look to identify priorities
for future research. Topics include surveillance, detection and trapping, risk assessment, and management methods such
as Sterile Insect Technique and lure and kill treatments.
“Both Australia and New Zealand have a strong interest in managing or eradicating exotic fruit fly,” says B3 Director Dr
David Teulon.
“It’s rare to have such a varied group of research, government and industry representatives from both sides of the
Tasman at the same meeting, and so we expect the workshops will create a positive platform for discussion and
information sharing.
“By coordinating our scientific efforts we can help develop applied solutions for dealing with this pest and preventing
its establishment in New Zealand.”
Although traditionally found in Queensland and New South Wales, Australian scientists studying Qfly have noticed the
population establishing itself further south in Victoria. It has been suggested that this may be due, in part, to a
changing climate producing longer warm seasons and a reduction in cold events.
“Factors such as climate change, along with increasing and evolving trade and tourism, pose ongoing challenges around
biosecurity, requiring forward-thinking and vigilance, and Qfly is no exception,” says Plant & Food Research Science Group Leader Professor Max Suckling.
B3 is a multi-partner, cooperative science collaboration that researches ways to reduce the entry and establishment of
new plant pests and diseases in New Zealand, and is aligned to New Zealand's Biological Heritage National Science
Challenge.
The PBCRC is a collaborative research network of 27 participating organisations from Australia and around the world that
develops and deploys scientific knowledge, tools and resources to strengthen plant biosecurity RD and capacity. Plant & Food Research is one of only two New Zealand members.
SITplus is a collaboration of research, regulatory and funding agencies that have joined forces to develop the use of
Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for the management of Qfly.
Image courtesy of the Ministry for Primary Industries.