Locust killer

CSIRO scientists have successfully used a rare Australian native fungus – Metarhizium – to produce an environmentally friendly 'bioinsecticide' spray, Green Guard, which has proven effective in controlling one of the world's major agricultural scourges, plague locusts.

Green Guard has already been used in Australia to control locust outbreaks, but only under a special licence. Now it will be available to all rural producers.

CSIRO recently signed a commercial agreement with the agricultural biotechnology firm, Becker Underwood and soon Green Guard will be available worldwide.

Managing Director of Becker Underwood Australia, Richard Waterworth, said that Green Guard had now been granted full registration by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and will be made available to farmers through agricultural resellers and government bodies involved in locust control such as the Australian Plague Locust Commission and the NSW Rural Lands Protection Boards.

'We have also had promising discussions with groups around the world and will be pursuing these,” Waterworth said. ”Our first aim is registration of Green Guard in China. Africa, Mexico, Canada, USA and South America will be targeted in the longer term.”