What does the future look like?

Our vision for how beneficials could be used more in grain production landscapes

The purpose of this project is to generate new knowledge about the ecology of beneficial arthropod species in canola growing regions, understand their impact on key canola pests, and determine ways to enhance their activities to control pests. In the future Australian canola growers and agronomists/consultants will be able to use the new digital tools and practices that are the project outputs to help enable transition towards more active management of beneficials. The research outputs will enable stakeholders to understand complex trade-offs with the use of certain pesticides and how to optimise management actions to support beneficial population growth.    

This can’t be achieved with a one-size-fits-all approach to practice change. We are trying to determine the best methods for canola fields of different sizes that sit in very different geographies and contexts. Therefore, tailoring practices for the context is going to an important part of the work we do. Our conceptual ideas are illustrated here:

We have developed a Framework for Beneficials in Canola that explains what needs to happen in more detail. To be shared soon.