Australia Horticulture Ltd (HAL) has announced a pilot program to eradicate fruit flies in the state of Western Australia (WA), which could end up saving the industry huge sums of money. 

It is estimated the Mediterranean fruit fly known as Medfly costs more than AUDS$200 million (US$188 million) annually in crop damage and market access restrictions.

The project is jointly funded by HAL and the WA Department of Agriculture, and aims to rid the pest from the state's expanding Carnarvon horticulture precinct by improving the current baiting scheme and releasing sterile male Medflies.

HAL research and development general manager David Moore said in a statement the industry would benefit enormously should the program prove successful.

"The horticulture sector spends more than (AUD)$10 million [US$9.4 million] annually on Medfly control, a cost that will only increase as relatively cheap organophosphate insecticides are withdrawn from use," Moore said.

"This significant co-investment of (AUD)$1.8 million [US$1.7 million] will fund a new sterile fly emergence facility in Carnarvon which will produce and release more than five million sterile male Medflies per week as part of a fruit fly biosecurity plan for the region.

"The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a proven tool for fruit fly suppression and eradication worldwide, and was successfully used to eradicate Medfly from Carnarvon in the 1980s.

"The anticipated outcome of this project is a fruit fly free area in Carnarvon leading to a reduction in the use of pesticides, increased market access and an expansion in the production of high value fruit fly susceptible crops.

"The project will be used as a pilot for developing fruit fly free areas, or areas of low pest prevalence, across Western Australia."

Carnarvon is located some 1,000km (621 miles) north of Perth and is surrounded by arid lands reportedly without fruit fly hosts. It is also said to be isolated from other growing areas making it ideally suited for a regulatory program based on community engagement.

The project will include funding for the employment of a dedicated fruit fly biosecurity officer and extension officer and is due to commence next month.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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