The National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) has secured ongoing funding from Hort Innovation, enabling phase 4 of the project that strategically co-ordinates fruit fly management in Australia. The funding will see the continuation of the NFFC’s work over the five years from 2021-2026.
Fruit fly is one of the biggest trade barriers for horticulture products and many species of fruit fly pose a threat to Australia’s horticultural industries, both endemic and exotic. In 2016 the cost of fruit fly in Australia was estimated to be $300 million, due to control measures and international trade restrictions.
While not a major pest of olives, producers in South Australia, in particular, have felt the string of fruit fly outbreaks via restrictions on movement of fruit at harvest time.
The new project is a joint initiative between Plant Health Australia (PHA) and Hort Innovation, with co-investment from State governments and horticultural industries. It will provide a national strategic direction to manage fruit fly in Australia, including managing the risk of exotic species, prioritising research and development activities to meet fruit fly management needs.
The project will also facilitate communication and cooperation between governments, industries, researchers, and communities to progress strategically important national fruit fly issues.
Major achievements of Phase 3 (2018-2021) of the project include the production and launch of the National Fruit Fly Strategy 2020-2025 and annual implementation plans, and delivery of the 2021 National Fruit Fly Symposium which brought together fruit fly stakeholders across Australia.
Find out more on the NFFC website here.
