New target specific biological control methods are dramatically reducing the use of chemical insecticides in broadacre crops.
This shift away from using endosulphan and synthetic pyrethroids to manage insect pests in crops such as cotton is being led by the Department of Primary Industries in response to increasing insect resistance, public health concerns in cropping areas and the industry trend towards more sustainable methods of pest management.
Senior scientist with the DPI Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences - Biopesticides Unit, Dr Carrie Hauxwell, said the development and registration of a viral pesticide, based on a naturally occurring baculovirus, that kills the insect pest heliothis was a successful biotechnology solution.
"This viral pesticide has many advantages for field use. Unlike traditional chemical insecticides which kill all insects in the field, and can leave residues that can enter waterways and ground water, viral pesticides are insect specific," she said.
"Because the virus is a natural disease of our primary target pest, other insects, birds or mammals that may feed on infected grubs will not be affected."
Dr Hauxwell said this allows the heliothis grub’s natural predators to hunt down any grubs not killed by the virus, which in turn minimises the severity of pest outbreaks.
"Not only do farmers benefit from this ‘control for free’, but these biopesticides help to keep up higher levels of biodiversity on the farms and surrounding areas than can be found where chemical insecticides are used." she said.
"Conventional farmers in Queensland are getting smarter – and ‘greener’- in their pest management. Better management of insect pests in broadacre agriculture also benefits the urban community through reduced levels of pesticide residues on crops."