Extending Complex Agricultural Research in Australia: The case of integrated parasite management in sheep

Abstract

In many agricultural industries around the world, the use of chemicals for pest or parasite control has resulted in the resistance of many of these organisms to chemicals. This has rendered many agricultural chemicals less effective or completely ineffective, leading to interest in more holistic management approaches such as integrated pest management (IPM). An IPM approach comprises biological, chemical, genetic and cultural components. Research into resistance of livestock parasites has increased over the past two decades, however very few IPM programs, in the Australian livestock industry at least, have been developed to successfully manage parasitic resistance to chemicals. Parasites cost the Australian sheep industry nearly AUD369 million per annum. Further, pressure is mounting from overseas markets, and the public, for 'clean and green' animal products with low levels of chemical residues. With resistance to chemicals only increasing, the industry has reached a critical phase regarding how it manages the chemical issue. The Integrated Parasite Management in sheep Project (IPM-s) was commissioned by Australian Wool Innovations Ltd to develop regional plans for integrated parasite management for the sheep industry. The project is multi-disciplinary, and comprises programs related to critical research in parasite ecology, and a socio-economic component to identify key benchmark indicators of parasite management, as well as to investigate potential impediments to the adoption of IPM practices. This thesis forms part of the socioeconomic component of the IPM-s Project.