African pest control system to be trialled in Lockyer Valley

WITH pest animals estimated to cost the Australian economy up to $1 billion a year, CSIRO scientists have developed a humane new technology that could help save Australian farmers’ crops and livelihoods.

After successfully scaring away elephants from farms and crops in Africa, scientists are trialling the Vertebrate Pest Detect-and-Deter technology in Australia against pests such as ducks, cockatoos, rabbits, wild dogs and more, starting in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley.

“Ultimately we want to scale-up the technology and roll it out across Australia,” CSIRO scientist Dr Ash Tews said.

“The idea here is that we can adapt as necessary.”

The technology works by detecting and identifying animals as they come close to farms or crops, and then emitting a tailored series of sounds and lights to humanely scare them away before they cause damage.

In addition to the feasibility study under way in the Lockyer Valley, CSIRO is looking to partner with local agribusinesses to continue testing and trialling the technology in Australia, aiming to help primary industries facing problems with an array of animals including ducks, cockatoos, rabbits, feral pigs, wallabies, foxes and dingoes.

The previous trial was conducted in Gabon, Africa, where elephants can present a significant problem for villagers and agricultural communities, being capable of destroying a community’s entire season’s worth of crops overnight.

In collaboration with agribusiness company Olam International, the VPDaD technology was successfully used to prevent destruction.