October 30, 2001
Farmers around the world are set
to benefit from the global expansion of CSIRO's
environmentally-friendly pesticide Green Guard®.
Green Guard® is a biological pesticide based on Metarhizium, a
naturally occurring fungus which is effective against locust and
grasshopper pests.
"Australia is the first country to use Metarhizium operationally
against locusts," says Dr Graeme Hamilton, head of the
Australian Plague Locust Commission, part of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry - Australia. "We have demonstrated the
potential of Green Guard® for biological control of locusts and
this has generated great interest around the world."
Although equivalent products have been registered overseas, the
collaboration here in Australia between the APLC, CSIRO and SGB
Australia Pty Ltd (CSIRO's commercial partner in Wodonga) means
that we are in a strong position to explore markets both locally
and internationally," says
Graeme Hamilton.
Dr Richard Milner, leader of CSIRO Entomology's insect pathology
project, says that Green Guard® was successfully used in
Australia last year.
"We can build and capitalise on the success of Green Guard®
against the Spring 2000 locust plague," he says.
Pending full registration, Green Guard® is currently used under
permit by the APLC to control locust outbreaks in its four
member States both in the arid interior and in cropping areas.
Currently, field trials are also underway in Western Australia.
"The factors which make Green Guard® attractive for locust
control in Australia include its low cost, the absence of
environmental effects especially on aquatic organisms and its
suitability for use in organic beef areas and where the use of
chemical pesticides is undesirable," Dr Milner says.
"Outside of Australia, the major locust problems occur in
developing countries. The use of chemical insecticides in these
areas can be harmful to local people," he says. "The major
advantage of Green Guard® over chemical insecticides is that
Green Guard® is a true biopesticide.
"The Metarhizium isolate we chose occurs naturally in the
Australian environment," says Dr Milner. "Green Guard® will kill
non-pest grasshoppers in addition to plague locusts, but will
not spread from the area to which it is applied. Green Guard® is
sensitive to UV and drying, so will not persist in the
environment for longer than required."
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation is
interested in Green Guard® and is currently considering the
ecological consequences of using an exotic isolate, such as the
Australian strain, in other countries.
Collaborative research is currently being undertaken in China,
Mexico and Indonesia and this may lead to the use of Green
Guard® in these countries or to the commercial production of
their strains in Australia.
CSIRO news release
N3921
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