Development of tools to increase knowledge and capacity of growers to implement sustainable pest management solutions
Abstract
This project provides growers with tools to provide ready access to information gained from Wine Australia funded research and the wider research community on management practices to enhance natural enemy abundance and diversity with awareness of non-target effects of chemicals and vegetation within and adjacent to vines.
Summary
This project lies across industry aims of increasing sustainability of production, increasing integrated pest management practices and reducing the Australian wine industry’s environmental footprint. Wine Australia aims to identify means to increase sustainability of production and environmental performance by developing better strategies for crop protection against pests and diseases, and providing tools to enhance the reputation of the industry as being environmentally sustainable1. Information on impacts of chemicals used in vineyards on beneficials is provided through the website, updated with information available to May 2011. Information provided here encourages consideration of chemicals used – i.e. choice is not simply whether to use a chemical, but to select within a wider range of chemicals and look at the longer term impact of choice. It is useful for both conventional and organic growers as the latter have access to chemicals such as sulphur, which are known to have negative impacts on natural enemies especially when applied above 600 g/100L.
Increasing grower awareness of diversity present in vineyards, especially natural enemy diversity, encourages management practices that take natural pest control through beneficials into account. Easy access to resources to facilitate recognition of beneficials supports this overall aim. In line with other agricultural industries, the grape industry recognises the importance of such information. We have taken many images of invertebrates in vineyards and accessed others through our extensive network. The images collected have been uploaded to the website to assist growers to identify natural enemies and their role in vineyards. We aim to increase the value of this natural enemy image library with continued addition of images, particularly as new beneficial species are identified. The network established in the last year will facilitate this process.