Agricultural pest and disease chemical resistance a top priority for new RIRDC forum
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) has today launched the AgVet Technology Priority List in a bid to address farm productivity issues caused by growing resistance to agricultural pesticides and veterinary (AgVet) chemicals.
The Priority List is the first outcome of the AgVet Collaborative Forum established in June, through RIRDC’s National Rural Issues program, with Department of Agriculture support, to identify solutions to key weed, pest and disease challenges through improved access to AgVet technologies. In an Australian first, the Forum facilitated a direct, formal discussion between AgVet technology users and the businesses producing them.
Released today on RIRDC’s website, www.rirdc.gov.au/agvet, the Priority List aims to highlight business opportunities for AgVet companies by providing direction on industry needs and a process to identify potential partnerships and co-investment opportunities with industry.
“The AgVet Technology Priority List is a groundbreaking advancement that aims to build a pool of more robust AgVet technologies to help drive a sustainable and productive future for Australian agriculture,” said RIRDC Managing Director Craig Burns.
“Significantly, plant and animal industry representatives and chemical companies came together for the first time through the Forum and identified solutions to a high proportion of previously unsolvable issues. For example, of the one third of the crop/pest priorities submitted by the plant industries that had no solution, over half of these now have solutions.
“In addition, all issues raised by the animal industries had a solution identified. In particular, access to anesthetic technology for improving animal welfare has been listed as a high priority as a result.” Read RIRDC Media Release – AgVet Technology Priority List
Download