Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
Seen something unusual? MAKE A REPORT
There are eight organisms identified as the biggest biosecurity threat to New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
09/05/2024
Within the next fortnight you’ll see some exciting new changes to our website. We’re giving the pages a refresh so they’re easier and simpler to read and navigate. The same content will still be there, but you’ll be able to find our most popular pages quicker and delve deeper into the detail if you want to. We look forward to sharing the look and feel with you in the next Bulletin.
Read more09/05/2024
As kiwifruit growers know, plants and plant material can’t come into New Zealand without correct approval and stringent biosecurity requirements being met. In a case of mistaken intel recently, air plants were destroyed on arrival when a passenger travelling from Melbourne declared four plants she had purchased at the Melbourne Garden Show, three tillisandia plants and a syngonium plant. The passenger unfortunately was given incorrect information from the seller at the time of purchase, and the plants were subsequently seized and disposed of by border officials. Image: Tillisandia plants (left), also known as air plants, do not need soil to grow. They are often found attached to branches or trees and get water via their roots from the moisture in the air. Syngonium plants (right) can survive in water without soil and are considered water propagatable plants.
Read more09/05/2024
The kiwifruit industry has a new on-screen biosecurity champion in Sydney Hines from Sybton Hort, who features in the industry’s latest contribution to the national Ko Tatou This Is Us biosecurity campaign. KVH worked with Sydney to produce the short video, championing biosecurity best practice for our businesses and long-term longevity of production. This is something close to Sydney’s heart given she’s an orchard manager and grew up on a dairy farm. “The importance of good biosecurity is always front of mind for me because of my experience with managing Psa in kiwifruit and seeing the impacts of Mycoplasma bovis too. By doing everything we can to stop unwanted threats from getting here and establishing, we’re protecting our investments and ensuring our industry continues to grow for many generations to come.” Watch the new video on the KVH YouTube channel here.
Read more09/05/2024
The number of live stink bug interceptions increased this season, partly due to a cluster of 20 live Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) found on a vessel from the United States, (via Jamaica and Panama), and an increase in the bugs arriving with passengers. This season (September 2023 – April 2024), 108 live bugs have been intercepted, more than double the previous season. There were markedly more interceptions of live bugs through the passenger pathway. Biosecurity New Zealand notes in the latest Border Space newsletter that rugby fans returning home from last year’s Rugby World Cup in France are the most likely suspects for inadvertently bringing an uninvited guest. Along with the widely reported surge in bed bugs in France during the World Cup, there was also a rise in the number of BMSB across Europe. The Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte which studies insect biology, said the weather conditions in the 2023 European summer helped boost the BMSB population. This boost in the population of BMSB then had a flow on effect to countries such as New Zealand as travellers returned home – particularly as traveller numbers have continued to increase post-COVID. Cargo continues to be a significant pathway for BMSB, and shipping lines are doing their bit to reduce BMSB risk, including carrying out additional surveillance during transit. The threat posed by countries that have known BMSB populations continues to be closely monitored and changes made to import rules as required. If you think you’ve found a BMSB – don't kill it. Catch it, take a photo and call KVH on 0800 665 825 or contact the Biosecurity New Zealand hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
Read more09/05/2024
Last week KVH took part in a showcase of research being undertaken to prepare nationally for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). Team members travelled to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) office in Auckland to attend a joint BMSB Council meeting and take part in field trips where we were fortunate enough to see some new traps in action in our national surveillance network. These aerodynamic traps are shaped like a windvane which helps the pheromone travel further, attracting more stink bugs to the area. Originally trialled in kiwifruit in Italy through co-funding from the Zespri Biosecurity Innovation portfolio, it was exciting to see this research being implemented to complement our own current surveillance methods. Next, we travelled to Plant & Food Research (PFR) to see some interesting science that the BMSB Council have been collaborating on with the research organisation and take in the hard work of the Council coming to life and making meaningful steps to increasing our BMSB preparedness. The BMSB Council is a collaboration between Biosecurity New Zealand and a range of horticultural sectors and continues to run a large research portfolio focussing on readiness and response planning. Proactively preparing and developing our BMSB toolbox during peacetime will give us the best chance at success should we ever find ourselves faced with an incursion. Image below: Erin Lane and Leanne Stewart from KVH join a field trip to see aerodynamic BMSB traps in action.
Read more26/04/2024
This month KVH visited with the Christchurch based Plant Diagnostics team to share summaries of information on kiwifruit trunk diseases gained in the last few years through a range Innovation Biosecurity projects. Projects, shaped by KVH and Zespri collaboration, and with work undertaken by Plant & Food research, have steadily extended industry knowledge of vine disorders and an understanding of Phytophthora species associated with kiwifruit, adding value for diagnosticians as well as growers. Plant Diagnostics are key partners of KVH, regularly providing sampling advice and completing diagnostics for samples submitted through the unusual symptoms process. Members of their team have a wealth of experience in the analysis and interpretation of diagnostic results for fungal, bacterial, and viral plant disease issues across arable, forage, seed, horticulture, and turf industries. They also design and conduct research trials for private businesses and collaborate on industry and government funded projects on plant diseases and quarantine and biosecurity issues. This extensive experience allows insightful analysis and interpretation of diagnostic results for fungal, bacterial, and viral presence and most importantly the delivery of relevant, practical solutions back through to KVH to share with growers. Typically, the lab receives plant, root, and soil samples either directly or arranged by KVH to support follow-up of unusual symptoms. Samples are cultured and identified by morphology/ microscopy or by DNA sequence analysis when required, with the process typically taking around four weeks. Growers can also submit samples directly to the Plant Diagnostics lab, but a friendly reminder that this movement of plant material to the South Island must be supported by a plant movement permission raised through KVH. Growers interested in working with Plant Diagnostics either directly or through the unusual symptoms process can be in touch with KVH via [email protected]. Image: Lewis and Mark Braithwaite from Plant Diagnostics, key contacts for KVH.
Read more24/04/2024
Be sure to save space in your calendar for the 2024 KVH Biosecurity Symposium, being held in Mount Maunganui 7-8 August. With the theme ‘Building resilience’, the event will bring life to our industry biosecurity values and activities, through a series of informative and interesting presentations for growers, industry, technical staff, and government. The full programme will be available shortly. Where: Stadium Lounge. Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui When: Wednesday 7 - Thursday 8 August
Read more24/04/2024
Direct flights from Bali resumed in April, and for passengers on those flights, there continues to be enhanced processes on arrival in New Zealand to manage the threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from Indonesia. Although Indonesia is managing an FMD outbreak and this situation doesn’t significantly raise the risk to New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand is reviewing biosecurity settings where required and has taken several steps to boost protections at the border. All passengers arriving from Bali are currently required to go through footbaths at the arrival gate and face additional risk assessment questioning from officers. Air New Zealand is also helping ensure travellers coming from Bali are aware of the enhanced biosecurity measures and how they can reduce processing time, such as encouraging travellers to wear closed-toed footwear for their return journey. Image below: Signage at Auckland International Airport, reminding passengers of biosecurity measures.
Read more24/04/2024
Due to the changes Spark are making to Xtra Mail you may be updating your email address. Please let us know of any change you are making, so we can update our records and ensure you continue to receive the Bulletin each fortnight.
Read more24/04/2024
The latest fruit fly and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk updates have been published on the KVH website. The updates include the latest detection and surveillance information, including our industry-led activities, and are produced every month.
Read more24/04/2024
Growers are reminded to update KVH should the Psa status of your KPIN change from undetected to Psa positive. This allows refresh of industry statistics regarding Psa spread, and supports KVH decisions on the supply of nursery stock, budwood and pollen to new developments and existing Psa undetected blocks. Controls are in place under the Kiwifruit Pathway Management Plan to provide protection against the full range of biosecurity threats to our industry, including Psa-V and effective movement controls disallow plant material at risk of harbouring Psa to move to undetected sites. Growers with Psa undetected sites can source fully certified plant material through the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) to ensure freedom from Psa-V and other biosecurity risks. This provides growers and greenfield developers with confidence of the best possible start for their investment. KVH is aware that across time, growers may observe Psa-like symptoms on previously undetected blocks, and reminds growers of their responsibility to confirm any new Psa positive status to KVH. Newer growers, or those less familiar with Psa can contact post-harvest technical teams for help with a visual confirmation or assistance in testing for Psa if needed. If you have developed a new orchard over the last few years, and have noted that Psa is now present, you can contact [email protected] to update your KPIN status. Also, if you are a greenfield developer, you can contact KVH for an ID number so that you can receive nursery plants and budwood for your site. This ongoing collective management of Psa at orchard, regional and national level helps minimise Psa-impacts for all growers.
Read more10/04/2024
The annual New Zealand Biosecurity Awards took place Monday night, recognising outstanding contributions made to protecting our country’s environment and primary sector, by individuals and organisations. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners, who have used their unique skills to undertake groundbreaking work across biosecurity. Representing the kiwifruit industry on the night, KVH Chief Executive Leanne Stewart presented the GIA Industry Award to category winners VeritAg, who alongside their collaborating partner, SVS Labs, facilitated the deployment of 220 veterinary practices to support Biosecurity New Zealand’s Mycoplasma bovis (M.bovis) eradication programme. Congratulations also to Minister’s Biosecurity Award Winner Dr Brian Richardson from Scion, who has made significant contributions to many of New Zealand’s biosecurity responses, weed science and research relating to aerial pesticide applications. He has also contributed to technical advisory groups convened to address significant biosecurity incursions from pests, including the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Painted Apple Moth. See the full list of winners and finalists here. Images below: Hon Andrew Hoggard Minister for Biosecurity, Ray Smith Director General, and Stuart Anderson Deputy Director General Biosecurity New Zealand, with Ministers Biosecurity Award winner Dr Brian Richardson (left) and Leanne Stewart with GIA Industry Award winners VeritAg (right). Click here to enlarge image
Read more
Fruit flies are the kiwifruit industry's most unwanted biosecurity threat. Any incursion can severely impact where we sell our fruit. The high risk period for fruit flies is September to June.
The Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF), native to Australia (our closest neighbour), is considered to be the greatest threat and has the most market impacts.
Pest ranking (Queensland Fruit Fly only) based on the KVH risk matrix
View risk matrixFinancial impact of a fruit fly incursion into New Zealand
The financial impact of a fruit fly incursion to New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry is estimated to be between $2 million and $430 million. KVH has produced a short report summarising the financial impacts of different incursion scenarios based on previous fruit fly incursions in New Zealand and overseas and economic modelling by Underwood (2007).
Importation of sterile QFF for research
Plant & Food Research were granted permission in mid-2015 to import sterile QFF into a New Zealand containment facility to develop new attractants for female and male flies.This long-term project will determine what the flies can smell and whether the odours can be used to improve the sensitivity of traps or increase the numbers of flies lured in. Three approaches are being used; odours based on host fruit, sex pheromones and bacteria.This research is part of a larger collaborative approach with Australian organisations to manage and eradicate QFF populations. One of these collaborations is the SITPlus partnership, a five year $22 million research and development partnership using Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT).
Supporting these research activities is a SIT facility that can produce 50 million sterile QFF per week as an eradication tool for release in Australia or New Zealand should an established population ever become large enough for this to be required. Read more about the project here.
KVH supports these research activities as an integral component of our readiness activities for the industry’s most unwanted biosecurity threat.
KVH investigates reports of unusual symptoms to identify and manage any biosecurity risks.
09 May 2024
Within the next fortnight you’ll see some exciting new changes to our website. We’re giving the pages a refresh so they’re easier and simpler to read and navigate. The same content will still be there, but you’ll be able to find our most popular pages quicker and delve deeper into the detail if you want to. We look forward to sharing the look and feel with you in the next Bulletin.
Read more09 May 2024
As kiwifruit growers know, plants and plant material can’t come into New Zealand without correct approval and stringent biosecurity requirements being met. In a case of mistaken intel recently, air plants were destroyed on arrival when a passenger travelling from Melbourne declared four plants she had purchased at the Melbourne Garden Show, three tillisandia plants and a syngonium plant. The passenger unfortunately was given incorrect information from the seller at the time of purchase, and the plants were subsequently seized and disposed of by border officials. Image: Tillisandia plants (left), also known as air plants, do not need soil to grow. They are often found attached to branches or trees and get water via their roots from the moisture in the air. Syngonium plants (right) can survive in water without soil and are considered water propagatable plants.
Read more09 May 2024
The kiwifruit industry has a new on-screen biosecurity champion in Sydney Hines from Sybton Hort, who features in the industry’s latest contribution to the national Ko Tatou This Is Us biosecurity campaign. KVH worked with Sydney to produce the short video, championing biosecurity best practice for our businesses and long-term longevity of production. This is something close to Sydney’s heart given she’s an orchard manager and grew up on a dairy farm. “The importance of good biosecurity is always front of mind for me because of my experience with managing Psa in kiwifruit and seeing the impacts of Mycoplasma bovis too. By doing everything we can to stop unwanted threats from getting here and establishing, we’re protecting our investments and ensuring our industry continues to grow for many generations to come.” Watch the new video on the KVH YouTube channel here.
Read more