Wednesday 31^st January 2001

An exciting opportunity for the CSIRO to further develop an internationally acclaimed biopesticide for the benefit of farmers and the environment has been lost.

Democrats Shadow Primary Industries Minister Ian Gilfillan says, "Metarhizium is a native fungus currently being sprayed with great success in the northern Flinders Ranges to prevent another locust plague."

"The Australian Plague Locust Commission says further research into the biopesticide could reveal other agricultural pests which are vulnerable to the spray."

However, Mr Gilfillan says, "Federal funding cuts to the CSIRO mean that Australian scientists have had to unwillingly withdraw from further investigating this brilliant and innovative home-grown discovery."

"Like other biological control methods it is gentle on the environment, and unlike the chemical spray it does not wipe out all other insects, or pose a threat to wildlife," says Mr Gilfillan.

"Metarhizium will eventually be commercialised and it is vital that the royalties be injected directly back into further research to help farmers control agricultural pests."

Mr Gilfillan says, "I applaud the Australian Plague Locust Commission for their support for Metarhizium, and mourn the Federal Government’s ignorance of its potential."