SOUTH AFRICA – The South African deciduous fruit industry has unveiled a Centre of Excellence for pest monitoring, a move aimed at mitigating the growing threat of invasive pests and diseases.
Spearheaded by industry body Hortgro, the initiative is expected to enhance the sustainability and global competitiveness of the sector.
Anton Rabe, Executive Director of Hortgro, emphasized the increasing risks posed by invasive pests and the urgent need for effective monitoring systems.
“We must understand where pests occur and where they don’t, as this directly influences crop protection strategies and practices,” Rabe said. “Catching an invasive pest early can enable eradication before it gains a foothold, while timely warnings allow the industry to prepare management practices and address phytosanitary concerns.”
The Centre of Excellence builds upon the monitoring expertise of FruitFly Africa (FFA), a key player in pest control since 2001.
The organization has been pivotal in managing pests like the Mediterranean fruit fly, employing more than 6,000 monitoring traps and producing millions of sterile flies annually to suppress pest populations.
Expanded surveillance and capabilities
The Centre’s scope extends beyond traditional pest monitoring to include emerging threats such as the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) and spotted wing Drosophila (SWD).
By broadening its surveillance capabilities, the industry positions itself as a leader in pest and disease management, reinforcing its resilience against invasive species.
FFA’s pest monitoring efforts encompass an extensive network of traps, including 3,300 dedicated to the Mediterranean fruit fly, 1,290 for the Oriental fruit fly, and 1,550 targeting the False Codling Moth.
Additionally, 174 traps are used to monitor the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, while 57 traps focus on the Spotted Wing Drosophila. These comprehensive measures form a critical component of the industry’s pest management strategy.
In the 2023/24 season, FFA produced approximately 65 million sterile Mediterranean fruit flies weekly during summer and 30 million weekly during winter.
Additionally, the organization coordinated 42 statutory aerial baiting applications, covering over 176,000 hectares of commercial orchards and vineyards.
The Centre of Excellence is not only focused on the deciduous fruit industry but is also poised to benefit other sectors such as berries, wine, and table grapes.
Leveraging FFA’s established capacity, these industries can enhance their pest monitoring and management efforts.
