Flies as effective pollinators for horticulture (PH24002)

Summary: 

This project addresses the urgent need for alternative managed crop pollinators in Australian horticulture, responding to the decline of wild pollinators, increasing risks to honeybee health, and the expansion of crops less suited to honeybees. Building on pioneering work from Hort Frontiers project PH16002, the project will advance four promising fly species (Eristalis tenax, Eristalinus punctulatus, Calliphora dubia, and C. vicina) as managed pollinators. It will evaluate their risks, costs, and benefits, and develop scalable rearing and deployment pathways with commercial partners. 

The project will progress fly pollination research for crops where these species have proven effective (avocado, cherry, vegetable seed) and expand trials to new crops. It will improve rearing technologies, utilise automation, and develop strategies for optimal fly deployment and retention, enabling year-round pollination in both open and protected cropping systems. A fly pollinator-specific risk assessment framework will also be developed to guide safe deployment. 

The intended impact for growers is to future-proof crop pollination by providing additional managed pollinator options tailored to specific crops and regions, complementing existing honeybee services. This will help ensure reliable pollination, support crop yields, and strengthen the resilience of Australian horticulture against pollinator shortages.