The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is funding enhancements to the National Bee Pest Surveillance program through the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

Asian hornets, a pest with potential to devastate the Australian honey bee industry, are a key focus of the program. The enhancements include the first ever trial of Asian hornet traps in Australia, and will assess the effectiveness of traps for a number of wasp species at seaports across the country, over a year-long trial.

The Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper is a $4 billion Government investment to grow Australia’s agriculture industries. The biosecurity surveillance and analysis activities funded through the White Paper target a number of pest species, including Brown marmorated stink bug, the Giant African Snail and Asian hornets. For more information on the White Paper funding enhancements, please visit the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 04 September 2018. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!