Searching for the perfect possum control
Developing and delivering a potential replacement for 1080 possum control was a major challenge, National Research Centre for Possum Biocontrol (NRCPB) Chair Dr John Hellstrom told the Biosecurity Summit.
Despite growing public concern about the use of 1080 to control possums and a “proceed but with caution” review conclusion by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) last year, no alternative was close to market, Dr Hellstrom said. A Lincoln University consortium and the NRCPB were currently working on potential alternative solutions.
Dr Hellstrom said the Lincoln group had some promising new products down the line, and was working on:
- refinement through incremental improvements of low residue and humane poisons, formulations and baiting strategy; and
- development of replacement products that are safer, less persistent and more targeted.
The NRCPB was attempting to develop novel possum-specific toxins, focusing on enteric toxin and immuno-contraception studies. Results were expected to be five to 10 years out from market and much further out than Lincoln, he said.
Female possum. Photo courtesy Nga Manu Images.
The NRCPB group had the research challenge of developing a model system that “combines an inhibitory biological target molecule with a means of delivery to disrupt a specific physiological process in possums, which reduces fertility by 60% for at least one year or kills more than 60% of possums.”
After a review last year it abandoned work on transgenic plants and a search for viral vector, and it suspended work on a parasitic vector, further modelling studies and hormone-toxin studies.
The Centre, which was established in 2005 to bring together various strands of research into one programme, is funded mainly by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST). It has a governance board of end users (Animal Health Board, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, regional councils) and researchers (Landcare and AgResearch).
The Centre has until June next year to meet targets for a “go-no-go” decision point on further funding.
Dr Hellstrom said the work on enteric toxins had identified some highly specific target proteins. It was hoped that, by February next year, the researchers would have fi ve to 10 molecules to test in vitro.
“In theory, this should be very humane, but there are real questions about how quickly we can get it through to market,” he said.
The work on suppressing reproduction was currently focused on delivery, which would probably be oral given “we obviously can’t go around injecting possums.”
Dr Hellstrom said the potential benefits of developing an alternative to 1080 included:
- much greater specificity for possums;
- reduced reliance on large-scale use of 1080;
- more humane effects through reduced possum suffering and reduction in overall possum numbers;
- reduced or more acceptable control costs.
The challenges of turning the research into products were “enormous”, he said. It was difficult to pick winners before any of the technologies had met performance targets, and there was no proven delivery technology yet. Product development and scale-up would be challenging, there were short timelines and fragile funding, and public concern with new technologies needed to be addressed.
- Dr Hellstrom is a Director of Biosecurity Limited, a private New Zealand company established in 1991 providing biosecurity and quality systems consulting and advisory services. He has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in epidemiology and a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science, and has been involved in designing and evaluating biosecurity programmes for the past 20 years. As New Zealand’s Chief Veterinary Officer 1984–89, he had primary technical responsibility for developing New Zealand’s biosecurity systems and restructuring the state veterinary service. Subsequently, as a ministerial appointee and chair of the Biosecurity Council, he led the development and publication of the Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand, which was launched in October 2003. He currently chairs the National Research Centre for Possum Biocontrol, as well as a government– industry working group investigating issues relating to cadmium levels in pastures. He is participating in a review of New Zealand’s approach to managing biosecurity risks, and is preparing a biosecurity strategy for the Australian state of Victoria.
Page last updated: 12 January 2009