The full cost of registering a new agrichemical to control pest moth leafroller would be beyond the resources of the blueberry industry – which is why the assistance of the Sustainable Farming Fund is so important, says the chairperson of Blueberries NZ.

The insecticide Prodigy, by Dow AgroSciences, is the first of many registered products to be released as part of a government-led Sustainable Farming Fund project – and chief executive Dan Peach says it's an important step for blueberry growers.

'Blueberries generally require only a small amount of inputs in relation to other crops. Many of our growers are organic, or choose not to use sprays. But if sprays are required, we now have a registered chemical specific to the target pest, rather than the broad-spectrum chemicals which were used in the past.

'It is pleasing to see government working alongside industry [through the SFF] for the good of all.”

Dan says the blueberry industry contributes some funding to the project and has made in-kind contributions, including being part of the trials to establish maximum residue levels.

The Minor Crops project team, coordinated by Horticulture NZ, announced the registration of Prodigy under the SFF project called ‘Registration of sustainable agrichemicals for minor crops'.

'The project brings together 12 grower product groups from across horticulture, agrichemical companies and MPI, who together have invested more $1 million to help streamline registration of agrichemicals for minor crops,” says Ministry for Primary Industries' director of Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Debbie Morris.

'The majority of crops produced in New Zealand are considered minor by chemical companies; and due to low levels of chemical sales, they do not justify the cost of specific registration trials,” says Debbie.

The Minor Crops Group is led by Nikki Johnson, of Market Access Solutionz in Wellington, and co-ordinated under the umbrella of HortNZ. Nikki says the project began in July 2011; and although it took some time to have the first product registered, the next two in the project, including products for citrus and leafy vegetables, should be much quicker.

'We are looking at products that are already registered for other crops but not for minor crops. We are hoping to work on brand new products currently registered for major crops but not for minor crops.”

Nikki says there is a new product from DuPont registered for use on potatoes to combat the potato/tomato psyllid, which the group wants to register for other crops but needs to build up data to support the application for registration.

Minor crops, which will benefit from other products currently under evaluation or close to registration, include leafy vegetables, blueberries, passionfruit, avocados, tamarillos, feijoas and squash.

Nikki says data protection is of concern for agrichemical companies.

'Prodigy for blueberries has recently completed its data protection period, so we are encouraging growers to support the company who supported them in
gaining registration.”