National Weed Biocontrol Prioritisation Framework
A framework for the prioritisation of weeds for biocontrol within the Australian context. A report for the National Weed Biocontrol Pipeline Strategy: Initial Stage project.
National Weed Biocontrol Pipeline Strategy: Initial Stage | Fact sheet
Weeds cost Australia $5 billion every year, with major impacts on our ecosystems, waterways and agriculture.
Weed biocontrol is a powerful tool to combat this national problem at landscape scale.
RnD4Profit-15-02-005 New biocontrol solution for sustainable management of weed impacts to agricultural profitability
A report on developing biocontrol agents for 10 weeds of importance in Australia, including five Weeds of National Significance (WoNS): cabomba, Sagittaria, prickly acacia, silverleaf nightshade and African boxthorn. Fleabane and sowthistle are major weeds of cropping land while mother-of-millions and giant rat’s tail grass impact grazing land. Ox-eye daisy is becoming a serious environmental weed on crown land.
The status of biological control research for 27 Weeds of National Significance
Biocontrol often forms a vital component of integrated weed management strategies and is a proven approach in the Australian context. Close to 40% of biocontrol programs have been considered successful, delivering an overall benefit-cost ratio of 23:1.
RnD4Profit-14-01-040 Fast-tracking and maximising the long-lasting benefits of weed biological control for farm productivity: Final Report
This project aimed to realise significant productivity and profitability improvements for primary producers by focusing on one piece of the national weed management puzzle – biological control, a measure which has a demonstrated collective national return on investment of at least 23:1.
Prioritising Targets for Biological Control of Weeds – a Decision Support Tool for Policy Makers
Published by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, this resource considers the decision support tools required to assist policy makers in assessing whether biocontrol is an appropriate option for weed control.
National Weed Biocontrol Pipeline Strategy
This Strategy aims to guide Australia’s future weed biocontrol research, development and extension activities for priority weeds at a national scale. It was endorsed by the Environment and Invasives Committee in July 2023.
Following a competitive process, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and its partners have been engaged by DAFF to deliver the initial phase of work by late 2024.
Biological control of weeds: A practitioner’s guide to south-east Australia
This manual provides key steps for undertaking weed biocontrol for more than 50 weeds species in south-east Australia. It provides information on:
– weeds and their background
– how to identify biocontrol agents (the weed’s natural enemies) and their potential impact on the weed
– how to source biocontrol agents
– how to redistribute these agents
– how to monitor establishment and dispersal of such agents.
Rural R&D for Profit Program – New biocontrol solution for sustainable management of weed impacts to agricultural profitability
This project aimed to develop biocontrol agents for the control of ten weeds of importance in Australia. Five of these weeds are Weeds of National Significance (WoNS): cabomba, Sagittaria, prickly acacia, silverleaf nightshade and African boxthorn. Fleabane and sowthistle have become major weeds of cropping land while mother-of-millions and giant rat’s tail grass impact on grazing land. The final weed, ox-eye daisy is becoming a serious environmental weed in crown land.
Economic impact assessment of Australian weed biological control
This report by AR Page and KL Lacey (AECgroup) examines the return on investment of the Australian weed biological control (biocontrol) effort.
Improving the selection, testing and evaluation of weed biological control agents
This peer-reviewed publication edited by H Spafford Jacob and DT Briese contains the proceedings from the Weeds CRC Biological Control of Weeds Symposium held in Perth on September 13, 2002.
Australian Biocontrol Hub
The Australian Biocontrol Hub gives people an ability to monitor the establishment and spread, and facilitate adoption of weed biocontrol agents.