Cereal killer’s deadly touch could lead to new wheat threat
Scientists have uncovered the origins of the world’s deadliest strain of cereal rust disease which threatens global food security.
Tag: biosecurity
A modelling tool to rapidly predict weed spread risk
In the study, published in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution, the researchers developed the tool that uses information about the features of a weed species and the geography of the area in which it has been reported to predict specific locations where the…
Finding the ‘needle in a haystack’ with new portable DNA device
A new smart-phone sized technology to quickly sequence DNA is being tested by University of Canberra researchers, through the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS) and Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, for its early warning potential to detect invasive species.
Sharing flowers may be deadly for native stingless bees
European honey bees could pass their diseases to native stingless bees simply by feeding on the same flowers, according to Australian research, which found five out of six wild stingless bee hives contained a parasite known to infect the gut of adult honey bees.
What is the cost of soil-borne crop disease?
Agriculture Victoria is calling on growers and agronomists to contribute to a national project seeking to determine the potential soil-borne diseases of pulse and oilseed crops.
What mice want
Research is revealing new insights and understandings about mice in Australian broad acre cropping systems, especially in terms of their food preferences and aversion to bait.
Wild dog control under research microscope
The WA Government will invest $500,000 in five research projects that examine new and effective ways to reduce wild dog impacts on farming and pastoral businesses in Western Australia.
Biosecurity manual helps cherry growers access markets
A new version of the biosecurity manual for cherry growers is now available from Farm Biosecurity.
Predator Free New Zealand – are we dreaming?
Uncertainty, conflicts, and inadequate planning could hamper progress towards a predator free New Zealand, meaning it is critical to prepare for future scenarios now.
How many are too many snails?
Snails could stop freshwater invertebrate populations from recovering, even after the stream habitat has been restored. That’s why a University of Canterbury (UC) student has spent much of her summer creating snail baskets.
Kiwis discover insects that weren’t known in their native countries
The discovery and description of two new insects suggests that New Zealand may be home to more exotic insects than we know about.
Fearless sea urchins stripping underwater forests
A new study led by The University of Western Australia and the Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes in Spain has found that sea urchins’ fear of predators plays a key role in the health of underwater forests, which are declining globally.