Biosecurity
New Thinking
'Menage-a-trois' plan to put pest moth off scent
New Zealand scientists may suggest to US crop protection agencies that a slightly kinky approach could help eradicate their light brown apple moth pests.
Funding boost for biosecurity
Agresearch chief scientist Dr Stephen Goldson says $2.5 million funding for research into advanced sensors for biosecurity will help the country develop its growing reputation in the field.
Funding fillip for advanced biosecurity system development
AgResearch says the $2.5 million funding for research into advanced sensors for biosecurity granted to the CRI in the latest FRST funding round will help New Zealand to develop its growing reputation in biosecurity and the associated development of biosecurity technologies
Weed enemy makes national debut
A South African moth has been released into New Zealand for the first time. Landcare Research staff have been mass-rearing boneseed leafrollers to do battle against boneseed, a highly invasive coastal plant.
Global war on weevil hots up
UK based researcher Dr Scott Johnson has been working with AgResearch for the past six weeks finding out how to combat the clover root weevil in a warmer climate.
Wilding conifers – when trees go bad
Conifer trees, if sited inappropriately, can go wild and spread in landscapes including the South Island High Country. Landcare Research, Ensis and ECan are developing means of determining which stands of trees pose the greatest weed threat, so as to devise the most effective controls.
Potential tool for possum population control
AgResearch scientists have found two enteroviruses in wild possums that could be used to carry vaccines for possum biocontrols such as contraception.
New glasshouses to fight invasive species
The establishment of state-of-the-art glasshouses at AgResearch's Ruakura campus will help combat invasive species that threaten New Zealand's pastorally-based economy.
Expat plants could threaten biosecurity
AgResearch, Crop & Food Research and Ensis scientists are studying ‘expat’
NZ prepares for faster action against global disease
Pandemic? Biosecurity? Bioterrorism? Potential threats all. Since 9/11 and SARS the world has taken big steps in proactive surveillance. But like all nations, perhaps the biggest challenge NZ faces is to bring the barrage of facts together, into a single – relevant - information source. Crown Research Institute ESR reckons it’s cracked the problem.
New Science
Invasive fanworm discovered
A new, and definitely unwanted, fanworm species has been found in Lyttleton waters.
Scientists try new Tb-control ideas
Landcare Research scientists will trial new pest-control methods in Marlborough this spring which may pave the way for a dramatic reduction in 1080-poison use in New Zealand.
No Environmental Impact from Genetically Modified Research Trees
Results from New Zealand's most comprehensive, independent scientific field trial of genetically modified trees support the argument that GM trees are low-risk and can be safely introduced into the environment, with no negative effects on other organisms.
Breakthrough in Varroa mite battle
HortResearch scientists could end a threat to the honey and fruit export industry.
ESR has finger on the pulse
The three most common notified bacterial diseases in New Zealand - Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli - are a focus for the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease at Crown Research Institute ESR. A new tool, connecting to major international research laboratories, will enable New Zealand to research infectious disease in new ways.
Scion sheds light on insect control
Most people turn off the lights to keep creepy critters away. But Scion is turning them on. The Crown Research Institute is trialling yellow lighting systems as a means of repelling insects, research which could reduce the need for methyl bromide treatments at wood processing sites.
DNA tracks pests on most-wanted list
Landcare Research scientists in Auckland have developed DNA techniques to help identify which wildlife killers have been dining out on other species.
Foot and mouth defences at the ready
The recent foot & mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the UK is a reminder of the threat FMD poses to NZ's livestock industry. NIWA staff are ready to respond to a FMD alarm.
Scents make sense in war against pests
Researchers at HortResearch plan to create special insect scents for use in the biological control of wasps and ants.
Possum field trials a success
A new threat to possums is on the horizon, with the successful release of genetically marked parasites in a field trial at Kahurangi National Park at the top of the South Island.
New Value
Irish wasp here to stay...
But not in Northland, according to AgResearch.
What risk from alien fish?
The risk posed by alien fish to to our freshwater species can now be evaluated, thanks to modelling work by NIWA scientists.
Keeping New Zealanders safe
SARs, avian flu, influenza, economic biosecurity, counter-terrorism around biological and chemical threats, and other threats at microbial level. This takes top people to keep New Zealand safe, and now they have top facilities as ESR opens its new site at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt.
Scientists breed varroa 'resistant' bees
A sustainable and cost-effective tool to control the varroa mite may soon be available to New Zealand beekeepers thanks to the efforts of scientists at the Crown Research Institute, HortResearch.
Local release of boneseed predator
The boneseed leafroller caterpillar has been released at Diamond Harbour on Banks Peninsular by staff from Landcare Research, to help control the pest plant boneseed.
Queen bees bred to withstand varroa mite
A bee colony is being established by HortResearch on an offshore island to breed queen bees tolerant to the bee-killing varroa mite for New Zealand's honey producers.
Weevil biocontrol working well in North Island
AgResearch says that latest results show that a tiny Irish wasp released early last year is hitting adult clover root weevils hard in the North Island.
New disinfestation technology goes international
An environment-friendly disinfestation system developed by New Zealand's Crop & Food Research and BOC will be taken up worldwide by Dole, the world's largest producer and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Finding environmentally friendly disinfestation
The cure must not be worse than the illness: a good principle for biosecurity and the reason behind a new disinfestation facility at Crop & Food Research to develop environmentally safe ways of treating horticultural and forest produce for export and imported goods
Weevil biocontrol expanding
Buoyed by the successful establishment and persistence of the biocontrol agent for clover root weevil at experimental release sites, the AgResearch Biocontrol & Biosecurity team plans to roll it out into other regions.
