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Our Projects

The A Lighter Touch programme has seen a broad range of projects funded, some specific to a particular plant product group, and others having benefits across multiple crops and sectors. Many are focused on particular pests or diseases, some are evaluating spray residues, and others focus on the use of beneficial organisms and biodiverse planting to help manage insect pests.

Programme Resources
Projects by pest & disease

A brief summary is provided for each project, categorised here under Completed and In Progress.

Project pages continue to be updated with latest developments and results as they become available. A Quick Reference Guide to these projects is designed to easily identify pests and diseases that are being targeting as part of the A Lighter Touch programme.

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Completed Projects

Thrips predator efficacy testing in strawberries

Thrips predator efficacy testing in strawberries

Completed
Strawberries NZ

Thrips predator efficacy testing in strawberries

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This project with Strawberry Growers New Zealand focused on the control of thrips, in particular the species Frankliniella intonsa (intonsa).…
PSA focussed projects

PSA focussed projects

Completed
Zespri

PSA focussed projects

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Zespri has three ALT-aligned projects investigating biological control options, and one which is focused on reducing chemical input by optimising…
Soilborne disease control in squash

Soilborne disease control in squash

Completed
Pan sector

Soilborne disease control in squash

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Soilborne disease control, specifically Fusarium oxysporum, is the most important crop protection gap for participating sectors. Two field trials were…
New fungicide residue trials in broad beans

New fungicide residue trials in broad beans

Completed
Pan sector

New fungicide residue trials in broad beans

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Botrytis is a significant issue in many crops including broad beans. The imminent demise of the only viable option (carbendazim)…
Revitalising IPM in greenhouse tomatoes

Revitalising IPM in greenhouse tomatoes

Completed
Tomatoes NZ

Revitalising IPM in greenhouse tomatoes

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This TomatoesNZ – A Lighter Touch project aimed to reduce the reliance on agrichemical applications on greenhouse tomatoes by revitalising…
Sclerotinia control in dwarf beans

Sclerotinia control in dwarf beans

Completed
Pan sector

Sclerotinia control in dwarf beans

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The demise of chemistry available for the control of Sclerotinia in field beans has left this crop significantly exposed. This…
Insecticide residues for early season whitefly control in greenhouse tomatoes

Insecticide residues for early season whitefly control in greenhouse tomatoes

Completed
Tomatoes NZ

Insecticide residues for early season whitefly control in greenhouse tomatoes

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Whitefly is a major economic pest of greenhouse tomato production in New Zealand. To assist growers to access and use…
Downy mildew control in spinach

Downy mildew control in spinach

Completed
Vegetables NZ

Downy mildew control in spinach

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Downy mildew is the most important pest or disease control gap in spinach in New Zealand. Where conditions favour the…

In Progress Projects

Biodiversity economics

Biodiversity economics

In Progress
A Lighter Touch

Biodiversity economics

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Biodiversity economics is a cross-sector project funded by A Lighter Touch to find out the commercial implications of investing in…
Mealybug control in persimmons

Mealybug control in persimmons

In Progress
NZ Persimmon Industry Council

Mealybug control in persimmons

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This project with the New Zealand Persimmon Industry Council will evaluate bioinsecticide options for control of mealybugs in persimmons. Three…
Regulatory pathway improvement

Regulatory pathway improvement

In Progress
A Lighter Touch

Regulatory pathway improvement

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An aim of the A Lighter Touch programme is to facilitate improvement of the regulatory pathway for the registration of…
Biologicals awareness and integration

Biologicals awareness and integration

In Progress
A Lighter Touch

Biologicals awareness and integration

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This project is focused on increasing knowledge and understanding about the use of biologicals and how to successfully integrate them…
Evaluating UV-C light treatment for the control of diseases in summerfruit

Evaluating UV-C light treatment for the control of diseases in summerfruit

In Progress
Summerfruit New Zealand

Evaluating UV-C light treatment for the control of diseases in summerfruit

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For summerfruit, fungicides and bactericides are used to control diseases such as Monilinia fruticola (Brown rot), Botrytis cinerea and Pseudomonas…
UV light in vineyards to reduce fungicide dependence

UV light in vineyards to reduce fungicide dependence

In Progress
Bragato Research Institute

UV light in vineyards to reduce fungicide dependence

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This project will trial UV-C technology in Sauvignon blanc grapes for control of powdery mildew, and has the potential to…
Bacterial disease control

Bacterial disease control

In Progress
Passionfruit NZ, Summerfruit NZ, Vegetables NZ

Bacterial disease control

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This project is focusing on bacterial disease control in three crops, passionfruit, broccoli and summerfruit. Trial work in spring and…
Unlocking potential of organic compounds

Unlocking potential of organic compounds

In Progress
Pan sector

Unlocking potential of organic compounds

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This project involves the screening of some organic compounds as potential controls for bacterial pathogens. It is an extension of…

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