Regional Engagement in the Northern Rivers: July – September 2024

November 13th, 2024

We’ve had the privilege over the last few months to visit several farms in the Bundjalung Nation – the Northern Rivers Region – to speak directly with growers, advisors, industry development officers, regen-ag specialists and other stakeholders about how they manage pests and pathogens in the landscape. This “Rapid Diagnosis Study” was designed to delve into the existing pest and pathogen management situation in the region by having deep conversations with different stakeholders within specific industries and across industries at multiple levels.

We conducted in-depth interviews aiming to:

  • Understand stakeholders’ individual perceptions of trends and major problems they are facing and their existing pest and pathogen management strategies, 
  • Identify sources of information/support, including digital sources, which are currently available to stakeholders
  • Highlight stakeholders’ needs or the information gaps which impact decision-making

We want to express our thanks to all participants who graciously gave up their time to share their concerns, knowledge, and stories with us.

Before starting this study, we obtained approval from both the CSIRO Social and Interdisciplinary Science Human Research Ethics Committee (CSSHREC) and the CSIRO Privacy Team. To ensure participant privacy, maintain trust with stakeholders, and meet ethical standards, all study data has been de-identified. Any quotes or images identifying participants and shared here or in other publications are used with the express permission of those individuals.

From July to September we held 29 interviews that included 36 participants (where some interviews involved more than 1 participant). This comprised 19 growers and 13 advisors from a range of industries (macadamia, berries, avocados, banana, coffee, custard apple) and 4 other stakeholders whose roles and expertise covered multiple industries. Interviews took about 45 minutes each and were held on participant’s farms, in their homes or offices, or at local cafés.

Results collected have already helped us identify gaps and challenges that growers are facing, and many opportunities for government, industry and the Pest READI project to enhance the uptake of AW-IPM.

We’ve only just begun the analysis process and so will be using those results to inform the direction of PestREADI moving forward. Some of the challenges and opportunities highlighted are in the diagram below

We will be continuing to engage in the region as the project progresses. if you’re interested in being involved, please leave your details here or contact us at pestreadi@csiro.au

“Pest and pathogen problems (are similar to) bureaucracy – things are added, and nothing gets taken away…” 

– Processor