From Agrichemical crisis to IPM success: thrips control in Australian strawberries

The Lighter Touch Program, of which SGNZ is a member, has produced and easy-to-read case study of the Australian strawberry industry’s journey with thrips control. 

This resource shows that once resistance is established, thrips cannot simply be sprayed out of the system. The Australian strawberry industry’s experience demonstrates that a whole-system IPM strategy, backed by monitoring, biological control, and grower support, can successfully shift pest management away from chemical dependence and deliver more sustainable results for growers.

The full resource is attached, with a summary below:

• Western flower thrips are a major pest of strawberries, causing bronzing, seediness, reduced shelf life, and fruit downgrades.
• In Australia, by the early to mid-2000s, heavy reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides led to widespread resistance across multiple chemical groups and created a pest management crisis.  Thrips were resistant to organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, spinosyns, avermectins, and fipronil.  Fruit residues exceeded market tolerances.  Super-bugs are real!
• Over three years, the industry shifted to an Integrated Pest Management approach that combined crop monitoring, biological control, selective chemical use only when necessary.
• Key beneficial organisms included predatory mites and native predatory thrips, supported by removing disruptive insecticides so natural enemies could recover.
• Grower training, on-farm demonstrations, and technical support were critical to building confidence and achieving rapid industry adoption.
• The result was stronger long-term pest stability, lower reliance on routine spraying, reduced resistance pressure, and improved market security.

New Zealand strawberry growers often struggle with thrips control, with frustration a common theme.  This resource sets out an example of how the Australian industry tackled their problem, a pathway we could embark on as

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