Fruit fly specialists and agronomists will embark on an Australian roadshow over late November and December in a bid to build confidence amongst local growers in pest management stratergies that don’t involve the use of cover-sprays (organophosphates).
The roadshow is being funded, organised and facilitated by Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) and will include presentations from special guest such as Roger Vargus from the United States Department of Agriculture in Hawaii, who has coordinated Hawaii’s successful fruit fly area-wide management programme.
Other presenters include Olivia Reynolds, senior research scientist from the NSW Department of Primary Industries, and Dan Papacek, an entomologist from Bugs for Bugs. A host of current staff from Hort Innovation’s fruit fly programme, SIT Plus, will also be involved.
Hort Innovation chief executive, John Lloyd, said a key focus of each session will be dedicated to answering growers’ questions and providing an update on the positive work that is being done to control fruit fly.
“The roadshow will provide an opportunity for fruit fly researchers to gain insight into the perspectives and needs of growers and hear growers’ feedback on fruit fly management,” Lloyd explained. “Growers are our ‘on-the-ground subject matter experts’ and getting their feedback will help shape the direction of fruit fly research in the future.”
