Projects

Results: A citrus pest responsible for wiping out central Queensland imperial mandarin and naval orange crops in the early 1990s has met its match in a solution funded by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL).

A seven-year, $462,000 HAL research and development project carried out by Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries has brought under control the devastating impact of citrus leafhopper or jassid.

Chair of HAL, Dr Nigel Steele Scott says an independent evaluation shows a return of 44 times the initial investment after 11 years. The technology adoption has contributed $15.18 million in social and economic benefits to both the public and private sectors.

“Key impacts driving this positive result include an annual increase in gross value of production (GVP) of $7.89 million; an annual reduction in cost of control of $241,500; and annual reduction in the social impact of odour valued at $3,808 per annum for the estimated 1,874 exposed households in the Gayndah/Mundubberah area,” Dr Steele Scott said.

The citrus leafhopper had become a major pest in citrus in the Central Burnett citrus production region based around Gayndah to Mundubbera in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“The aim of this project was to enhance the understanding of the biology and ecology of the citrus jassid and subsequently identify improved control methods,” Dr Steele Scott said.

“This project tested the efficacy of endosulfan and buprofezin in controlling citrus leafhopper. As a result of the project’s success, these control methods have been adopted by virtually all affected growers.”

Dr Steele Scott says the investment is just one of the many hundreds of projects HAL invests in each year on behalf of 44 horticulture industries in Australia.
 
“HAL invests in more than 1100 projects each year, with an annual program expenditure of $73 million in 2007-08,” Dr Steele Scott said.