Awareness best defence against fruit fly

The Queensland fruit fly, a major pest in Australia, poses a constant threat to New Zealand’s horticulture industry.

The insect eats a wide range of fruit and vegetables, causing huge damage and costing horticulturalists dearly in both treatment and loss of product.

Debs Reidt and the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) are at the front line of minimising the threat.

“We work with all the governments from different countries that import. Different countries have different control measures.

“As soon as there is an outbreak in [Australia] we upgrade the precautionary levels.”

Reidt, a quarantine inspector for MPI, said if the fruit fly established itself in New Zealand, the effect would be huge.

“It would be really, really devastating. It would be sort of on the same path for horticulture as what foot and mouth would be for agriculture.”

Estimates peg the potential loss to New Zealand’s horticulture industry at $820 million, if the pest gains a foothold on Kiwi shores.

With an exhibit at this year’s Fieldays, MPI hopes to raise awareness and assure the farming community it is doing everything it can.

“I think having an awareness of the sorts of things that can happen if they don’t declare when they come through the airport [is important], and encouraging friends and family when they come over to visit [not to bring] any fruit or anything like that,” Reidt said.

“Also, letting people in agricultural and horticultural businesses know what we’re doing. That’s a big thing: making sure that they know that we’re doing our darndest to keep them safe.”