5 May 2011
DAFF11/123K
Government invests $6.1 million in search for weeds solutions
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly, has today announced $6.1 million in funding for 33 new research projects bringing innovative approaches to tackling some of Australia’s most invasive pest plants.
In announcing the projects, Dr Kelly said that weeds have a major impact on the national economy, costing farmers more than $4 billion annually in lost production and control measures.
“The damage caused to Australia’s natural environment by weeds is also immense,” Dr Kelly said.
“The aim of these projects is to find ways to prevent future damage to our natural resources and to better manage weeds in agriculture, as well as implement innovative approaches to improve weed funding, strategies and outcomes.
“The announcement of new research and development projects to reduce the impact of weeds in both the short and long term will be welcomed by primary producers and environmental land managers.”
The newly funded projects began in March 2011 and run until May 2012.
“This research investment will address a number of Weeds of National Significance, assist the cropping and pastoral industries with problems like herbicide resistance and seed persistence, and promote new weed treatment technologies, new biological controls and remote sensing technologies,” Dr Kelly said.
The research investment is a key plank of the National Weeds and Productivity Research Program which is leading Australia’s search for weeds solutions.
This program is being managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
A full list of the 33 research projects is available at the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).