What was it all about?

From 2016 to 2021, this program developed, demonstrated and facilitated the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, to support macadamia growers in having pest-resilient farming systems.

It was made up of multiple, interrelated sub-projects that covered a wide range of topics relating to integrated pest management, including:

• How inter-row vegetation management can influence the presence of beneficial insects in macadamia orchards.
  
  
• Various field trials, testing combinations of IPM tools across the orchard, in each of Australia’s macadamia growing regions.
  
  
• How insects respond to compounds and odours of interest, with an initial focus on Sigastus weevil (here, laboratory work will ensure that field trials ultimately involve compounds pests detect and are attracted to).
  
  
• Growing knowledge of key macadamia pests, as well as beneficials, working towards the development of pest identification and management guides.
  
  
• Establishing and maintaining laboratory colonies of pests and biological control agents for use across the program’s work, including behavioural studies investigating pest preferences in relation to food, shapes and colours.
  
  
• Working with local advisors, pest consultants and industry development officers to develop and deliver extension activities around the project.