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CSIRO CORPORATE MEDIA RELEASE 95/64

"CLEAN, GREEN" FOOD TO BEAT USA BANS - CSIRO BATTLE WITH PLANT DISEASES

In a world first, CSIRO research has developed a mixture of natural microbes that looks to be effective at battling fruit diseases currently prevented by pesticides.

The breakthrough comes hot on the heels of a recent decision in the USA to phase out the use of 36 pesticides over a two-year period. Thirty-two of these pesticides are still registered for use in Australia.

According to CSIRO's Dr Anna Williamson, the breakthrough will mean good news for farmers, consumers, chemical companies and food exporters seeking "clean green produce".

"We have developed a mixture of microbes which occur naturally in the human food chain," she said. "This mixture has been effective in tests with fungi that causes anthracnose disease of avocadoes, mangoes and bananas."

The microbe mixture shows particular promise because it is:

• natural and not harmful (microbes are already part of the food chain)
• simple to develop - it can be grown on inexpensive material in a relatively simple manufacturing set up
• unique (it has been patented)
• effective at controlling fungal fruit disease in early tests.

Dr Williamson said the mixture was ready for trial for registration and further commercial research and development by interested Australian companies.

"The microbe mixture needs to be further developed to meet commercial standards, field trials need to be run, and further research is needed to understand and develop its best potential," she said. "The key to our success so far has been getting the right microbes growing on the right material, and in the right environment."

Dr Williamson said it was crucial for Australia to find alternatives to chemical pesticides.

"With the banning of many fungicides overseas and international initiatives to reduce chemical residues in food products, it is likely that some pesticides will not be available for the control of plant diseases in 10 years time," she said.

"Australia needs alternative pest and disease control methods if it wishes to protect its domestic and international food industries."

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There are very good photo and video opportunities available, such as scientists working bio-hazardous chambers and microbe mixtures.

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