Research impact – an end-user’s perspective: Phosphine resistance

Abstract

Research presented in this session will explore some of our innovative research to improve pest management and help maintain and build market access for our grains industries. At the beginning of the session some of our work to assist in monitoring and managing resistance to phosphine, from the perspective of the grains industries, will be presented.
Around the world, grain industries are looking for solutions to the increasing problem of insect resistance to the key fumigant phosphine, a fumigant that underpins the Australian exports of grains.
PBCRC has developed and implemented a national phosphine resistance management program that involves: implementation of new and effective national treatment protocols; communication of resistance trends to industry based on substantial sampling across grain production regions; rapid diagnostic results that inform timely management decisions; the development and implementation of phosphine resistance management tactics such as site hygiene practices and ‘break fumigants’ such as sulfuryl fluoride. The PBCRC team is a global leader in the monitoring and management of phosphine resistance in stored grain pests and the national monitoring program has played a key role in assisting the grains industries maintain market access.