What was it all about?

This project funded a project coordinator to drive the Riverina Biosecurity Inc fruit fly campaign to successfully coordinate and implement this voluntary, grower-driven fruit fly control program between 2012 and 2016.

The target audience included…

• Commercial growers of fruit-fly-susceptible crops in the Riverina council areas of Leeton, Griffith, Carrathool, Murrumbidgee and Narrandera
• Relevant industry associations and boards
• Local government authorities in the region
• Backyard growers in the region, including residential tenants renting through real estate agents
• Other land managers such as irrigation companies, crown land managers, Local Land Services, Rail NSW, State Water, and National Parks.

As a result of the project, the Riverina districts saw lower Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) numbers as well as attitudinal change in stakeholders towards accepting that Qfly is present on-farm yet manageable. All of the region’s 25 packing sheds have also adopted the policy of ‘No bait spray, trapping, then no taking of fruit’, and they request growers submit evidence of Qfly management on farm orchards.