Australia
October 6, 2010

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), on behalf of itself and Charles Sturt University, is seeking expressions of interest to produce and market a unique nematode for control of pest snail and slug species.

“The development and commercialisation of a biologically based control agent has the potential to dramatically improve current control techniques,” GRDC new farm products and services program manager Paul Meibusch said.

“Many growers currently use practices such as stubble management, burning and baiting to manage snails and slugs, but these practices can be expensive and time consuming, and may not fit with other farming practices.

“The organisation which is successful in its application to produce the biological control agent will collaborate with Charles Sturt University – which has already isolated and tested several prospective nematode species.

“There is the opportunity for the licensee to develop a range of products to suit other markets such as horticulture, which also suffer significant economic losses from snails.”

Mr Meibusch said snails and slugs were a significant in-crop pest issue in key southern cropping regions, including Western Australia.

“In WA, the pests are a problem in higher rainfall areas in the southern grainbelt, where they are capable of causing extreme crop losses,” he said.

“The pests are a particular issue in canola and legume crops, and can chew emerging crops to ground level.”

Expressions of interest close on November 9, 2010.

More information is available by contacting the GRDC’s Bettina Garrett on (02) 6166 4500 or b.garrett@grdc.com.au

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: October 6, 2010