Integrated Pest Management in Capsicums
Project Overview
Bugs for Bugs and Granite Belt IPM will work closely together on the Integrated Pest Management in Capsicums project in the Granite Belt region of QLD.
This project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in capsicum production, creating a tangible link between biodiversity and agroecosystem stability. By shifting away from reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides and introducing diverse pest control strategies, the project seeks to build grower confidence, enhance in-crop and surrounding landscape biodiversity, and reduce the environmental footprint of horticulture.
Project Goals
- Increase biodiversity and stabilise pest populations through IPM adoption.
- Reduce chemical inputs, enhance crop health, and improve production outcomes.
- Build trust with growers and showcase practical alternatives to conventional pest control.
- Supports the Australian Agriculture Sustainability Framework (AASF) priorities P1 (C1), P3 (C6), P5 (C9, C10).
Key Activities
- Establish study sites IPM block and Control block (no change to conventional production). Three sites over three years.
- Collect biodiversity data in IPM blocks and control blocks.
- Over three seasons works closely with primary producers to introduce IPM strategies into the IPM blocks and collect data on in-crop biodiversity changes and productivity outcomes (pack-out).
- Deliver field day to promote outcomes and workshop to demonstrate data collection methods and link to decision making protocols. These may be delivered together.
