Friday, 27 July 2018 09:37

How can scientific research help to mitigate biosecurity risk?

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The International Mail Centre at Auckland airport – a key location in New Zealand’s biosecurity system. The International Mail Centre at Auckland airport – a key location in New Zealand’s biosecurity system.

By the end of 2019, New Zealand Winegrowers will be funding high quality biosecurity research that helps mitigate risk from our most unwanted pests and diseases

This was a key success measure identified in the 2018 New Zealand Winegrowers’ Biosecurity Strategy. Biosecurity research is a hugely important part of ongoing efforts to protect the sustainability of the industry. Dr Edwin Massey reports.

Biosecurity risks never stand still.  Often the causes of change are well beyond the control of any New Zealand-based decision maker. For example, in recent years we have seen the emergence of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) as a key biosecurity threat as it has spread across the world including to our current and future trading partners. This has happened very rapidly; how our trading partners have managed their biosecurity system has been a key determinant of the overall biosecurity risk to the New Zealand wine industry. 

New Zealand is becoming increasingly connected in a global world and these connections bring both opportunity and risks. Forecasted growth in passenger arrivals, new trade markets and changing demographics increases pressure on the New Zealand biosecurity system. Such changes were particularly evident at a recent visit to the International Mail Centre in Auckland. During this visit, New Zealand Winegrowers learned that volumes on the courier mail pathway had increased over 200% in the previous 10 years due mainly to the widespread adoption of internet shopping. This has significant implications for New Zealand’s biosecurity and the fight against hitch-hiker pests like BMSB. 

Climate change is another key driver of changing biosecurity risk profiles. A changing climate could result in previously low risk species becoming a significant risk as conditions become more favorable for their growth and establishment. In addition, a more extreme climate could place additional stress on our vines making them more susceptible to the impacts of unwanted pests and diseases. 

The potential impacts of these changes are difficult to quantify but highlight the need for the wine industry to be as prepared as possible to mitigate additional risk.

What role can research play?

Research to boost biosecurity readiness is fundamental to protect the industry from biosecurity risk. There are three key areas where research can make a major contribution:

  1. Research to close down knowledge gaps regarding  biosecurity risks

Research that uncovers new information about biosecurity risks is important to protect the long-term sustainability of the industry. For example, recent research on New Zealand’s vineyard virome, carried out by Dr Arnaud Blouin at Plant & Food Research has meant New Zealand Winegrowers is better informed about the potential threat caused by several significant viruses, Grapevine Red Blotch Virus and Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus, not yet present in New Zealand, but which are causing significant impacts overseas. This new knowledge helps inform our readiness to meet these threats.

  1. Research to develop/deploy new control tools for priority pests  

Biosecurity incursion responses to unwanted insect pests work best when there are cost effective tools to control low level populations of unwanted organisms. Research into developing these tools will always be important. Recent research carried out by Dr Gonzalo Avila and Dr John Charles at Plant & Food Research on samurai wasp host testing was critical to determine the potential effect of this biocontrol tool on the wider environment in New Zealand. 

This work highlighted that the samurai wasp was unlikely to have a significant impact, other than on pentatomid bugs, the majority of which are introduced species. This information in turn informed the development of an application to the EPA to import samurai wasp into containment for use should BMSB establish in New Zealand. 

  1. Research to encourage members’ adoption/participation

It’s common sense to highlight that what individual growers/managers do on their vineyard is critical to managing biosecurity risk. Nonetheless, across the industry there is significant variability in the implementation of practices to manage biosecurity risk on a day-to-day basis. Research to better understand and overcome barriers to the implementation of biosecurity best practice is an important part of the puzzle. In biosecurity, it’s not if, but when. In the future there will be an incursion of one of our most unwanted pests and the implementation of these practices will be essential to mitigate risk and impact. 

Our research future?

Through the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) New Zealand Winegrowers has the opportunity to be a partner with the Crown and other horticultural industry organisations to develop research that could lead to pan-sector benefits. 

For example, should the Samurai Wasp EPA application be successful, further research is required to determine the most efficient means to release these wasps to counter the establishment of a BMSB population. This research would help to ensure we have the best chance to eradicate a BMSB incursion as quickly as possible for the benefit of all New Zealanders. 

The establishment of the New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre is another exciting development which provides an opportunity for increased industry focus on biosecurity research. A Research Strategy, currently under development will likely position biosecurity research as a high priority. 

This research strategy will align well with the current Biosecurity Strategy. Such alignment will enable New Zealand Winegrowers, the New Zealand research community and overseas collaborators to develop high quality research programmes that deliver benefits for members, helping them to manage the uncertainties caused by changing biosecurity risks, helping to protect the sustainability of the industry. 

Conclusion

Biosecurity research will be critical to mitigating both the range of risks currently facing the wine industry and unknown risks that may emerge in the future.

Through its participation in GIA and the establishment of the New Zealand Winegrowers Research Centre, New Zealand Winegrowers is well placed to meet these threats. New Zealand Winegrowers will keep members updated on the development of biosecurity research through industry events such as Grape Days and the Romeo Bragato conference as well as on the New Zealand Winegrowers members’ website:

https://www.nzwine.com/members/grow/biosecurity 

Remember – if you see anything unusual please catch it; snap it; report it – call the MPI biosecurity hotline 0800 80 99 66 and call New Zealand Winegrowers Biosecurity and Emergency Response Manager Dr Ed Massey 021 1924 924 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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