Samurai Wasp Alasdair MacLeod, Chair Ben Smith, Tomato Grower and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Application to release Trissolcusjaponicus Samurai Wasp Alasdair MacLeod, Chair Ben Smith, Tomato Grower and Board Member

NZ Fresh Tomato Industry

• 130 growers; 1015 employees; 120ha of greenhouses
• $131m farm gate value (2018);
• Covered crops industry worth ~$295m
• Year round supply of NZ grown fresh product
• Exports to Australia, Japan, Nth America, Pacific Rim

.

2

TNZ Strategy

• To be economically and environmentally sustainable

growers of healthy, safe and nutritious fresh tomatoes

• To double the value of the sector by 2020
• Sustainable pest control critical to future industry success

.

3

BMSB impact

• Piercing/sucking causes spots on fruit –

downgraded quality

• Greenhouses and packhouses: potential
• verwintering sites

.

4

Biocontrols in tomatoes

• Industry is experienced with this approach
• Currently uses BCAs for whitefly control (over 25

years)

• Previous applications to release (Macrolophus,

Tamarixia)

• Currently working on developing Tamarixia (e.g.

import, release, monitoring, adapting to glasshouses)

.

5

Glasshouse Growing

• Glasshouses are connected to the outside environment
• The idea that we are not affected by weather is common, but

false

• Screens cut down air flow and are not a practical option
• One big glasshouse in NZ had screens and they ripped them out

.

6

Psyllid Example: the secondary consequences

.

7

Psyllid learnings for BMSB

• Direct crop damage from BMSB may not be the hardest

issue

• Loss of market access will hurt
• Border closures to export markets
• Loss of high value customers, who have high standards

for low residues

• Secondary resistance issues from the only BMSB control

program (spraying) without Samurai wasp could hurt the most

• Many crops affected, not just tomatoes

.

8

Biocontrol is preferred

• Consumers and growers prefer non-chemical pest control
• Industry is experienced with biocontrols
• Resistance management requires multiple control
• ptions
• Most countries have many greenhouse biocontrol
• ptions
• Mesh not practical or economical

.

9