A NEW international technology specifically designed to fight fruit fly is being deployed across metropolitan Adelaide in an Australian first.
The state government is trialing 4000 innovative FreeDome lures from Israel-based company Biofeed, which uses a chemical formula to attract, feed, and kill fruit flies.
South Australian primary industries minister David Basham said the use of Biofeed lures shows the government was throwing everything it could at the state's fruit fly outbreaks.
"With the spring season upon us and fruit flies becoming more active as the weather warms, it is important we look outside the box in our efforts to eradicate this pest and protect the thousands of horticulture jobs at risk across the state," he said.
"The government met with Biofeed during a trade mission to Israel in 2019 and since then we have been in talks about how we can use this technology to help keep fruit fly out of SA.
"This is the first time FreeDome lures have been used in Australia and we're very pleased to welcome Biofeed founder and managing director Dr Nimrod Israely here this week.
"Fruit fly ecologist Dr Israely is here to learn about SA's fruit fly outbreaks in detail and plan with our response team how best to trial his FreeDome lures in our environment.
"Some residents will start to see the yellow panels of the FreeDome lures appear in their gardens - they are very safe, but please don't interfere with them, just let the lures do their job.
"In addition to placement across Adelaide backyards, FreeDome lures will be trialed by our fruit fly entomologists at SARDI to scientifically test them in a controlled environment."
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Dr Israely was confident his internationally-regarded fruit fly solution would succeed in the Adelaide outbreaks.
"I am delighted to be here in SA to work with the government's fruit fly response team to help their plans,' he said.
"My FreeDome lures have demonstrated significant success in agricultural areas all over the world.
"As a farmer, and being a fruit grower most of my life, I am passionate about reducing the use of chemicals in agriculture.
"This is why I developed the FreeDome technology to be highly effective, safe, for many months of continuous operation under all weather conditions, and maintenance-free.
"The FreeDome innovative technological solution is the new generation for the control of fruit flies based on innovative patented technology, the Gravity Controlled Fluid Release (GCFR) technique, for discharging organic mix that lures, attracts, and kills fruit flies.
"I am thrilled to be here to help the Fruit Fly Outbreak Response Team with the unique experience, knowledge, and know-how that Biofeed has developed.
"Our goal is to help complete the eradication of fruit flies in SA, as soon as possible, and keep it this way for many years."
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