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Resistance Management in the Green Peach Aphid: Integrated Surveillance and Strategic Response

Resistance Management in the Green Peach Aphid: Integrated Surveillance and Strategic Response

Reference number: PROC-9177115

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Release date:: Monday 16 September 2024
Closing time:: Wednesday 06 November 2024, at 05:00 PM ACT local time
Enquiry deadline:: Wednesday 30 October 2024, at 05:00 PM ACT local time

Summary

This investment proposal is a strategic follow-on to CES2001-001RTX "Insecticide resistance in the green peach aphid: national surveillance preparedness and implications for virus management" which concluded in June 2024. Building upon the foundational knowledge and methodologies established by this project, the proposed investment aims to advance the management of Green peach aphids (GPA) and their resistance to insecticides. This investment is crucial for grain growers to stay in business and to lower the cost of control by reducing insecticide application failures. Effective management strategies will prevent significant yield losses and economic damage due to GPA and Turnip Yellows Virus (TuYV).

Offer period

Offers will remain open for acceptance by the GRDC for a period of 6 months after the Closing Time.

Document contact and enquiries

Attention: Wendy Bosci
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Email: brtenders@grdc.com.au

Make all requests for further information or clarification in relation to this procurement in writing (email) prior to 30 October 2024.

GRDC will publish all requests and responses to requests on the GRDC website under Questions and Answers at the bottom of this webpage.

Consortia response

GRDC will not accept Tenders from Consortia.

Lodgement of Tender

Submit your Tender response electronically through the Grains Investment Portal.

AusTender

https://www.tenders.gov.au/Advert/Show/165b5feb-ddea-4411-8f5c-d03abaec3ba8

Description

The Green peach aphid (GPA) poses a significant and escalating threat to Australia’s canola and pulse crops, primarily as a vector for Turnip yellows virus (TuYV), which can lead to substantial yield losses. Recent GPA outbreaks in key growing regions, combined with increasing insecticide resistance and the phase-out of older chemicals, highlight the urgent need for updated and sustainable management strategies.

This investment will build on previous research to develop and implement new tools and strategies for GPA resistance management. By integrating advanced diagnostics, predictive models, and sustainable control practices, the project aims to improve decision-making for growers and advisers. The investment will also collaborate with other ongoing research efforts focused on virus transmission and pest management, ensuring that the latest innovations and findings are applied effectively.

To maximise the impact and efficiency of the investment, research activities will be integrated with ongoing R&D investments. This integration will leverage existing data, samples, and resources, ensuring that the investment is both cost-effective and comprehensive. For example:

Predictive models for GPA movements will be enhanced by validating data from ongoing surveillance and monitoring activities to ensure their accuracy and utility for growers.
National resistance surveillance efforts will use existing sample collections and resources to broaden geographical coverage and enhance understanding of GPA resistance patterns.
Field trials will be designed to complement and collaborate with other studies on pest management and alternative treatment strategies, allowing shared resources and greater insights into both chemical and non-chemical control options.

Partnerships with crop protection stakeholders and industry collaborators will strengthen the financial and technical foundation, ensuring rapid adoption of developed solutions. This collaboration will broaden the project’s impact and ensure its relevance to industry needs.

Through a strong extension and communication program, the project will disseminate new research and management strategies to growers and advisers via workshops, field days, and digital platforms. This ensures that the grain industry is equipped to adapt to evolving pest and virus challenges, reducing reliance on traditional chemical controls and enhancing the sustainability of grain production.

Outcome

Outputs

Output 1 - Enhanced National GPA Surveillance Program

From November 2024, undertake a national GPA resistance surveillance program to efficiently detect emerging resistances and monitor existing ones.

Details:

Screen for resistance in thirty field-collected populations annually, prioritising samples from WA, SA, Vic, and NSW.
Linking with existing GRDC investments in aphid-mediated virus transmission, implement cost-effective technologies and methodologies to maintain robust monitoring capabilities.
Optimise resistance screening assays and explore novel ways to reduce reliance on laborious phenotypic tests and explore virus transmission dynamics specific to GPA haplotypes.
Integrate real-time data analysis tools to facilitate rapid communication to growers and longer-term updates to the Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy.

Output 2 - GPA Movement Predictive Tool Development

By November 2027, develop and validate a predictive tool to forecast GPA movements into crops, aiding advisers (and therefore growers) in timely pest management.

Details:

Create a dynamic model based on environmental and biological data to predict GPA flight patterns, leveraging data from related investments.
Link with existing GRDC investments in aphid-mediated virus transmission to validate model predictions and ensure synergy between projects.
Develop a user-friendly interface that allows advisers and growers to input location-specific data to receive tailored advice and promote through existing GRDC and partner communication channels (incl. demonstration days and online webinars).
The predictive tool for GPA movements to be integrated into the MyGRDC platform, as part of the new tech roadmap.

Output 3 - Field Trials for Alternative GPA Management

By November 2028, conduct field trials in the Southern Region to evaluate alternative GPA management strategies.

Details:

Evaluate combinations of chemical applications and cultural practices against traditional neonicotinoid seed treatments.
Assess the efficacy of canola seed treatments against insecticide-resistance GPA.
Package trial learnings into management recommendations and communicate to growers through GRDC Research Updates, industry webinars, field walks and written resources. Ongoing support provided to growers adopting new practices, including technical assistance and economic analyses.

Output 4 – Maintain Currency of GPA Insecticide Resistance Strategy

By October 2028, update the national Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy (IRMS) for GPA to reflect new knowledge and regulatory changes.

Details:

Collaborate with CropLife Australia and other stakeholders to incorporate the latest research findings into the GPA Best Management Practice Guide.
Hard copies printed and distributed at GRDC Research Updates nationally.
Promote industry buy-in through agrichemical company networks, social media posts, webinars/workshops, GroundCover and PestFacts south-eastern.

Output 5 - Improved Grower Education and Communication

By November 2025 and annually thereafter, enhance communication and extension efforts to increase the adoption of resistance management guidelines by grain growers.

Details:

In conjunction with an extension specialist:

Develop and distribute educational materials and conduct incorporate findings into training workshops to be delivered through CES2404-002RTX ‘Seasonal status of pests delivered to growers’.
Communicate project findings at GRDC Research Updates, industry webinars and events, and through the development of podcasts and short videos.
Ensure grower communications are aligned with existing GRDC investments in aphid-mediated virus transmission.

Proposed Budget

Proposed Contract & Term

GRDC will contract under the terms of the GRDC Standard Two-Party Research Contract.

The schedule(s) attached to the contract will detail the project details: the outcomes, outputs, milestones, budget, participating personnel and required intellectual property.

The template Contract containing the proposed terms and conditions is available on the Application resources page on the GRDC website.

It is anticipated that any resultant contract in relation to this procurement will commence with a proposed term of 4 years.

Conditions for Participation

The following are mandatory conditions with which a Tenderer must comply to participate in this procurement process:

The Tenderer must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners
The Tenderer and any proposed subcontractor must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and any other applicable labour laws and standards in the jurisdiction in which they operate.
The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not have a judicial decision against it (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and who have not paid the claim.
The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not be named on the Consolidated List, being the list of persons and entities who are subject to targeted financial sanctions or travel bans under Australian sanction laws, as maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Minimum Form and Content Requirements

The following are the mandatory content and format requirements that the Tenderer must complete and provide to participate in this procurement process:

Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal.
Write Tenders in English and express any measurements in Australian legal units of measurement.
Budget details must be submitted on the ‘GRDC Budget Template’ provided in the Grains Investment Portal.

Evaluation Criteria

In the table below are the Evaluation Criteria that the Tender Evaluation Team will use to assess the value for money of all Tenders.

No	Type	Weighting
1	Technical – Qualitative evaluation criteria related to non-price factors such as methodology, project plan, track record, experience.
1a	Demonstrated Capability and Expertise of the Project Team 1. Leadership and project management: Highlight relevant experience managing complex research and extension projects. Provide examples of managing insecticide resistance and virus transmission in broadacre crops. 2. Technical expertise: Demonstrate expertise in developing and deploying pest management tools, especially those related to GPA and Turnip Yellows Virus. Highlight prior work in resistance monitoring, predictive modelling, and alternative pest control strategies. 3. Predictive tool development: Highlight experience in developing and deploying forecasting or predictive models for pest management. 4. Collaboration and industry engagement: Showcase success in collaboration with industry stakeholders, including RDCs, agronomists, and growers. Provide examples of how these collaborations have supported the adoption of pest management strategies. 5. Organisational strengths: Describe access to research infrastructure, intellectual property management, and resources that will support the delivery of this project.	30%
1b	Project Plan and Methodology 1. Comprehensive research plan: Outline a clear and structured research plan that demonstrates an understanding of GPA resistance, virus transmission, and the development of alternative management strategies. 2. Integration with existing R&D: Provide details on how the project will integrate with other ongoing GRDC investments and leverage existing data, samples, and resources to enhance efficiency. 3. Stakeholder engagement and adoption strategy: Explain how stakeholders will be engaged throughout the project, including how the team will work with advisers, agronomists, and growers to facilitate the adoption of project outputs. 4. Timeline and milestones: Provide a detailed timeline with key milestones and deliverables that show the project will be completed within the expected timeframe. 5. Communication and Extension: Provide a clear plan for disseminating research findings and resistance management guidelines to growers and advisers through workshops, digital tools, and other outreach activities. 6. Adoption pathways: Detail how the project will ensure the adoption of tools and strategies developed, and how success in adoption will be measured.	40%
1c	Co-investment and Collaboration 1. Co-investment: Demonstrate capacity to secure co-investment from industry stakeholders (e.g., agrochemical companies) to strengthen project impact. 2. Industry collaboration: Provide a clear plan for working with industry bodies to ensure the relevance and application of research outputs.	15%
1d	Intellectual Property (IP) 1. Existing IP: Summarise existing IP to be used and any restrictions on use, publication, or commercialisation. 2. New IP: Identify potential new IP and its contribution to project goals. 3. IP management: Outline ownership, licensing, and strategies for IP commercialisation or accessibility to the grains industry.	15%
2	Price - The tendered budget.	N/A
3	Risk - Risks inherent in the application including the degree of compliance with the draft contract and any actual or perceived conflict of interest.	N/A

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