Design released for US$3M South Australian sterile fruit fly facility - FreshFruitPortal.com

Design released for US$3M South Australian sterile fruit fly facility

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Design released for US$3M South Australian sterile fruit fly facility

A tender for the construction of a AUD$3.7 million (US$3 million) Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) facility in South Australia is expected to be released in the new year, with building set to begin by June and completion slated for July 2016. Queensland Fruit Fly Bactrocera_tryoni

The State Government recently released the architect's designs for the complex that it claims will put South Australia in the "box seat" nationally for combatting Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly).

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Leon Bignell, said the SIT facility would support a five-year AUD$22 million (US$17.9 million) national research and development collaboration to produce a sterile line of male Q-fly.

The State Government said it was working closely with Horticulture Innovation Australia in maximizing the benefits of this landmark development.

"The new SIT facility will provide significant employment opportunities for the Port Augusta community. Up to 10 permanent staff will work there once it is operational and there will be other jobs available in the maintenance and servicing of this facility," Bignell said.

"This SIT facility will put our state at the leading edge in combatting Q-fly."

Bignell highlighted sterile insects had been used with great success in fighting fruit fly both in Australia and internationally, but this would be the first scheme of its kind to ward off Q-fly.

"While South Australia is fruit fly free, Q-fly is a pest that is endemic in many areas interstate, so the sterile male Q-fly produced at Port Augusta will be used to eradicate the pest not just during South Australian outbreaks, but interstate as well.

"The new Prosser Street facility, when completed in July 2016, will have the capacity to produce 50 million sterile male Q-fly each week, providing a great benefit to eliminating this major pest from agricultural growing areas around Australia."

Photo: TWD

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