The protection of New Zealand’s plant-based productive ecosystems from pest and pathogen threats is of vital importance to the future development of this country’s economy.

Burgeoning and diversifying trade and tourism continue to amplify this need, with it being further compounded by changing social attitudes towards the acceptability of pesticide-based pest and disease management strategies.

Ecologically-sustainable disease and pest management systems, based upon comprehensive knowledge arising from world-class innovative science, are increasingly required by New Zealand’s plant-based economic sectors.

Key features of this eight-year programme:

• integrated pest and disease management research for the pastoral, vegetable, arable and forestry sectors
• a strong team of high-quality bioprotection scientists from Universities and Crown Research Institutes, with the skills needed to deliver required outcomes
• development of research capability through mentoring of emerging bioprotection scientists, via four PhD programmes and five postdoctoral fellowships
• substantial co-funding from industry sectors
• involvement of end-users through contribution to research prioritisation and project planning, and involvement in on-farm testing of new technologies and management systems
• an extensive track record in published research and delivery of outputs to end-users
• a demonstrable track record in the commercialisation of research technologies.

Programme partners:
Lincoln University
Massey University
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
AgResearch
HortResearch
Scion
Crop & Food Research
Silver Bullet
Bill Dyck Ltd

Key personnel:
Prof Alison Stewart
Dr Trevor Jackson
Prof Richard Falloon
Dr Robert Hill
Dr Wadia Kandula
Dr Craig Phillips
Dr Nigel Bell
Dr Mike Brownbridge
Dr Pip Gerard
Dr Scott Hardwick
Dr Cor Vink
Dr Jana Lottmann-Monk
Dr Rikard Unelius
Dr Kirstin McLean
Dr Matthew Cromey
Dr Andrew Pitman
Mr Peter Wright
Dr Steve Lewthwaite
Dr Ian Horner
Dr Nick Roskruge
Mr Mike Burtenshaw
Dr Tony Reglinski
Dr Steve Reay
Dr Rebecca Ganley
Dr Tod Ramsfield
Mr Bill Dyck
Dr Rosie Bradshaw

Key co-funding organisations 2006 - 2007
• Forest Biosecurity Research Council
• P F Olsen Ltd
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Sustainable Farming Fund)
• NZ Aid
• AGMARDT
• Open Polytechnic of NZ, Research Fund
• Processing Potato Industry Advisory Committee, Australia
• Horticulture Australia Ltd
• Horticulture New Zealand
• British Potato Council
• South Australian Research and Development Institute
• Agrimm Technologies Ltd
• Foundation for Arable Research
• Nufarm NZ Ltd
• Ballance Agrinutrients

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