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New move against Queensland fruit fly

07 Nov 2013

Plant & Food Research is partnering with Horticulture Australia Ltd, CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship and the South Australian State Government to undertake a pre-emptive strike on the Queensland fruit fly.

Announced today by Premier Jay Weatherill, the South Australian Government is investing in a $3 million facility where sterile male-only Queensland fruit flies (Q-fly) can be bred, a first for Australia. These sterile insects will then be released to mate with wild female fruit flies, creating a reduction in the population.

Plant & Food Research Australia, the CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship and Horticulture Australia Limited will spearhead the development of the male-only line of Q-fly. Each year, South Australia spends around $5 million to maintain a fruit fly free status, and the new facility will help eradicate incursions of Q-fly into South Australia and support control of Q-fly in other major horticulture production areas.

Building on the new facility will begin in the next six months and take about two years.


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If you’re a journalist interested in this news, please contact one of our Communications Team at media@plantandfood.co.nz or:
Emma Timewell, Communications Manager, +64 (0)21 242 9365
Laura Ward, Senior Communications Advisor, +64 (0)21 572 813
Maja Burry, Senior Communications Advisor, +64(0)21 609 569

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