EDITION 39 | April 2023
Stuart Burgess
Manager, National Fruit Fly Council
Message from the Manager
Welcome to autumn 2023, signalling an end to another summer season for many industries, whilst others launch into a new season. No doubt a busy time for all.
In this newsletter I welcome our new NFFC Chair, Mr. John Webster, update you on our Think Tank Series of webinars and bring you the latest news on the upcoming National Fruit Fly Symposium in July.
NFFC meets with Steritech
The NFFC’s Stuart Burgess and Chris O’Connor recently met in Brisbane with Steritech’s Fresh Produce Business Manager, Ben Reilly.
Stuart and Chris explored Steritech’s Narangba facility and discussed the use of irradiation as a fruit fly disinfestation treatment with Ben.
Future research with CSIRO
The NFFC’s Chris O’Connor and Stuart Burgess recently met with Dr Hazel Parry, Dr Rieks van Klinken, Jane Muller and Dr Maryam Yazdani from CSIRO in Brisbane to talk about a range of exciting research undertakings aimed at supporting fruit fly management.
The discussions offered significant potential in some of the new technologies being developed.
Online ILO training goes live
PHA recently launched an enhanced e-learning Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) program designed to improve response readiness of industry representatives that may be called on to work in the incident management structure during a response, and to understand their roles and responsibilities.
Recording of Think Tank webinar #1: Market access
The video recording of the NFFC’s Think Tank webinar #1 on market access is now available on our website and features presentations by Dr Penny Measham, Director of RD&E at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and leader of the Market Access team, and Sally Ormiston, Assistant Director of Market Coordination and Strategy at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
Registrations now open for NFFC Fruit Fly Symposium
The National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) is excited to announce that registrations are now open for the National Fruit Fly Symposium, taking place from 20 – 21 July 2023 at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide, South Australia.
NFFC unveils new web design
The National Fruit Fly Council (NFFC) is excited to unveil a refreshed Prevent Fruit Fly website that continues to offer accurate, trusted information in the identification and management of Queensland and Mediterranean fruit fly. The refreshed website provides a more seamless digital experience, making it more intuitive and easy to use.
Introducing a new citrus online training course
CitrusWatch has developed a new online training course for the citrus industry and associated stakeholders to improve biosecurity capability. The course consists of two modules and supports ongoing CitrusWatch activities by ensuring that nationally consistent training is provided to volunteers and sub-contractors.
Fruit fly tree tags take off
Fruit fly awareness is going to the next level in the hands of gardeners, with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) rolling out fruit tree tags.
The initiative has seen more than 30 SA nurseries and select Bunnings stores across the state use the tree tags to help raise awareness amongst gardeners about what they need to do to prevent fruit fly in their garden.
The tags were initially rolled out to independent nurseries and garden centres with assistance from the Nursery and Garden Industry of SA, followed by five Bunnings stores, including Berri, in the Riverland.
Labelled “Look after me”, the tree tags are designed to remind gardeners they need to pick fruit once it’s ripe, collect fallen fruit, check it for signs of fruit fly and call the Fruit Fly Hotline if they see maggots.
With many of the fruit fly outbreaks in the Riverland being found in backyard fruit, it’s hoped the tree tags will boost awareness to gardeners about looking after their fruit trees in their own backyard.
PIRSA’s fruit fly response team continues their efforts to promote the importance of keeping clean backyards to prevent future fruit fly outbreaks.
PIRSA Communications Adviser Chloe Johnson (right) briefing Bunnings staff on the fruit fly tree tags.
A tree tag on a fruit tree at Bunnings.
In the media
Shepparton residents urged to have a say on fruit fly
Home gardeners and property owners across the Goulburn Valley have the opportunity to take part in the QLD fruit fly online community survey.
Time's ripe to tackle fruit fly
The region’s residents and growers are being urged to get on top of Queensland fruit fly after a spike in the pest’s numbers in recent months.
Bayswater Queensland fruit fly detection
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is working to prevent the spread of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly), after the invasive pest was detected in Bayswater.
Grower calls for fruit fly traps to be made compulsory for commercial orchards in SA
The head of a fruit growing group is calling for the South Australian government to make it compulsory for Riverland growers to have fruit fly traps on their properties.
Fruit Fly ID
Fruit Fly ID: Bactrocera aquilonis (Northern Territory fruit fly)
The Northern Territory fruit fly is regarded a minor pest species, and major commercial hosts include bitter gourd and guava.
Bactrocera aquilonis is present in the northern parts of Australia including Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In the Northern Territory this species dramatically increased its host range in 1985.
