Trans-tasman partnership strengthens biosecurity

The workshop, hosted by New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research and Better Border Biosecurity (B3), features leading scientists from Australia’s Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), presenting the latest CRC fruit fly research as part of a New Zealand research tour by the CRC Board. This also coincides with a meeting of the recently formed New Zealand Fruit Fly Council.

In partnership with New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research and the Bio-Protection Research Centre, the Plant Biosecurity CRC has invested over $AUD4.5 million (NZ$4.7 million) in plant biosecurity research projects.

Chairman of the CRC, Dr Martin Barlass, says research collaboration has been highly valuable for leveraging the exceptional biosecurity science skills base of each country.

“This partnership continues to be especially important for increasing our knowledge of pest species with the potential to devastate horticultural industries in both countries,” he says.

“Fruit fly is not yet present in New Zealand and tomato potato psyllid doesn’t yet have a foothold in Australia. By learning from each other we can maintain pest-free status and protect our agricultural industries from these economically devastating pests.”

Biosecurity has a high profile in both Australia and New Zealand, with the quality science that underpins these world-class biosecurity systems contributing to growing exports for both countries.

Plant & Food Research is a New Zealand government-owned science company which has been a partner in the CRC since 2012. CEO Peter Landon-Lane believes there are a number of advantages from the collaboration with the CRC.

“The CRC partnership provides both partners with access to valuable technologies and expertise,” says Landon-Lane.

“Fruit fly is a major concern for horticulture in New Zealand. With our horticultural industries worth around $7.5 billion, our horticultural exports more than $4 billion, and over 90 per cent of these exports by value vulnerable to fruit fly, it’s essential to keep ahead with the latest in biosecurity research and development.

“The trans-Tasman collaboration boosts scientific capability for both countries,” he says.

New Zealand research organisations are involved in 26 CRC projects, focusing on issues including tomato potato psyllid, fruit fly, cereal rust, diagnostics for bacterial plant pests and community engagement.

“With growth in global trade, travel and tourism exposing both New Zealand and Australia to increasing biosecurity risks, these research collaborations have never been more important,” says Dr Barlass.