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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-04-30 Daily Xml
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BIOSECURITY

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:40): I seek leave to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about biosecurity.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: South Australia has a proud record of excellent biosecurity. For example, it is the only mainland state which is free of fruit fly and one of the few places in the world which is free of the vine-destroying pest phylloxera. We have a heritage of vines producing fantastic wines. Can the minister advise of a recent award which supports research into biocontrol measures?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. The member is correct that South Australia has an excellent track record in relation to biosecurity threats, particularly to our wine industry, but across many of our sectors. We do not rest on our laurels. We are working through our premium food and wine and clean environment priority to build on that strength. In 2011-12 alone, we exported over 400 million litres of wine, worth over $1.1 billion. South Australia accounts for over 75 per cent of Australia's premium wine production sourced from some of the oldest grapevines in the world.

As the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Minister for the Status of Women, I am very pleased that the University of Adelaide PhD student Mary Retallack, also the 2012 award winner, has been awarded the 2013 SARDI Science Bursary. Ms Retallack will use the bursary for her University of Adelaide studies exploring the value of native plants to boost populations of beneficial insects which contribute to the control of common vineyard pests such as light brown apple moth.

Ms Retallack is looking at the capacity of a range of native plants, including those found in stands of remnant vegetation adjacent to local vineyards which have the capacity to support arthropods, such as insects, spiders and centipedes which prey on common wine grape pests. Ms Retallack is also an Adelaide Hills vineyard consultant and SA wine industry leader. The project is focusing on expanding existing knowledge of biocontrol measures by encouraging greater use of native plant species which attract, or end up being home to, insect species in and around vineyards, to provide food, shelter and alternative prey for beneficial arthropods.

The light brown apple moth alone is estimated to cost the Australian winemaking industry up to $18 million a year in yield losses, insecticide costs and also lower grape quality. I understand that Ms Retallack hopes to come up with recommendations on which native plants will assist growers to produce quality wine grapes that are fit for purpose with lower insecticide inputs, particularly at key times in the growing season.

This type of scientific research into biocontrol measures for one of our most valuable industries is exactly the type of research I believe can help boost our wine industry in any field of agriculture. Reducing production costs and increasing production is the aim, and doing this by reducing the use of agricultural chemicals while benefiting the environment is obviously the most sustainable way to achieve that aim and obviously a win-win for everybody.

Ms Retallack, in addition to her wine consultancy, is studying with the University of Adelaide's School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. This school of Adelaide University complements SARDI research on biological control and is part of a strong Waite campus research program on integrated management of viticulture pests and diseases.

SARDI and the Waite campus partners are national leaders in oenology and viticulture research. The annual SARDI Science Bursary was established in 1994 to commemorate the SA Women's Suffrage Centenary (1894-1994)—a great way to encourage women who continue to excel in science and a great way to encourage science as well and, obviously, encourage those people undertaking studies in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, forest science, etc., to continue through to postgraduate education and qualifications.

The South Australian government is committed to providing opportunities to increase women's participation in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects in particular in higher education and to providing support to women who enter these growth industries associated with those, all of which are currently male dominated. Awards such as these are just one way that we can recognise women's participation and support their professional growth in these sorts of fields.

I am very pleased that this award has been made to such a worthy recipient and look forward to hearing more about the results of this work. I'm very pleased that this award has been made to such an impressive person. Mary Retallack is quite an amazing person and a wonderful ambassador for women in this state and also the agriculture sector.

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