Author
Maree Wright
Research and Development Coordinator
Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
Canberra, Australia
Abstract
Australia has commenced a landmark collaboration to fast-track delivery of weed biocontrol agents. The five-year ‘Nation-wide Weed Biocontrol Mass-Rearing and Release Network for Enhanced Drought Resilience in Australia’s Agricultural Landscapes’ project creates a national consortium of research, government, industry and community partners to deliver a multi-jurisdictional biocontrol network. The project is led by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS), with $5.9 million in funding through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF).
This project is establishing a coordinated national framework for the large-scale mass-rearing, release, monitoring and evaluation of biocontrol agents. By uniting facilities, expertise, and stakeholder networks, the program will accelerate the deployment of nine biocontrol agents targeting seven major weeds; African boxthorn, opuntioid cacti, prickly acacia, horehound, cabomba, sagittaria and salvinia. The project will also develop a nationally harmonised weed biocontrol data collection, analysis and evaluation system. An overarching ‘Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan’ will measure progress towards achieving FDF outcomes.
The project is the first major investment arising out of Australia’s ‘National Weed Biocontrol Pipeline Strategy’. This CISS-led strategy was developed to guide future weed biocontrol research, development, and extension activities for priority weeds at a national scale.
Keywords
Coordination
Mass-rearing
Release
Monitoring
Network
Highlights
Biocontrol funded for its contribution to drought resilience and ecosystem function
A national collaborative network will accelerate weed biocontrol agent delivery and monitoring
A national strategy for weed biocontrol has led to success in attracting major investment