National Pest Information Service

The investment will work to build knowledge and capacity in pest management across the grains industry by delivering more regionally based extension activities for growers and advisers. It will also enable improved communication between researchers and advisers (including face-to-face training and events).

GRDC expects new data collection pathways separate to traditional methods, to be developed through the next phase of the NPIS. These could, for example, be linked to cropping production software that commercial agronomists and advisers are currently using to collect data.

NPIS will contribute to managing and prioritising action towards emerging invertebrate pest risks by improving grower and advisor knowledge of biology for current and emerging pest threats.

The successful tenderer will deliver a best practice approach for a nationally coordinated but locally relevant pest identification and management service.

A mechanism to streamline project structure with simplified national branding and a single point of contact for all growers and advisors in each of GRDC’s three regions is highly valued. As is using increased social media and podcasts as communication strategy.