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Closed ATM View - PROC-9176121

Prevention and Preparedness for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Linda McDougall

Phone: 0472 832 502

Email Address: tenders@grdc.com.au

Document(s) Contact Name:
Linda McDougall

Document(s) Contact Phone:
0472 832 502

Document(s) Contact Email:
tenders@grdc.com.au

ATM ID:

PROC-9176121

Agency:

Grains Research and Development Corporation

Category:

70140000 - Crop production and management and protection

Close Date & Time:

6-Feb-2020 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
Show close time for other time zones

Publish Date:

9-Jan-2020

Location:

ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS

ATM Type:

Request for Tender

Multi Agency Access:

Yes

Multi Agency Access Type:

All Agencies

Panel Arrangement:

Multi-stage:

Description:

The fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda), is a noctuid moth pest that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It is primarily a pest of maize but has a wide host range and is capable of feeding on over 80 plant species, periodically causing significant economic damage to rice, sorghum, millet, soya bean, wheat, alfalfa, cotton, turf, and fodder crops (Nagoshi et al., 2019).

Until recently, the overall biosecurity risk of fall armyworm to the Australian grains industry has been ranked low in the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry (PHA, 2015). However, due to its recent and rapid spread through Asia and confirmed presence in Indonesia in June 2019, the risk status has been revised.

FAW was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early 2016 and has quickly spread across virtually all Sub-Saharan Africa. In July 2018, it was confirmed in India and Yemen. By December 2018, it had been reported in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Nepal confirmed its presence in May 2019. As at June 2019, it was reported in Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam, Egypt and the Republic of Korea. Japan reported presence of FAW in July 2019. The moth's strong flying ability and potential to contaminate certain commodities in trade gives it the potential to spread further. The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry lists primary FAW hosts (peanut, soybean, Lucerne, common bean, sorghum, maize, rice, sugarcane) and secondary FAW hosts (oats, barley, millet, field pea, rye, wheat, cowpea) without distinguishing between the “strains”.

FAW occurs in two strains and hybrids thereof: a ‘rice strain’ (R strain) and a ‘corn strain’ (C strain); the former is thought to preferentially feed on rice and various pasture grasses and the latter on maize (corn), cotton and sorghum. The strains are morphologically identical but are reported to be distinguishable by molecular and other techniques. The recent FAW incursions report most significant crop damage on maize and to a lesser extent sorghum. There are reports that both strains are present in Africa. Differences such as the host preference, insecticide resistance status, mating behaviours and a range of other biological characteristics have implications for surveillance and eradication/management strategies.

Much of South and Southeast Asia, and areas of Australia, are highly suitable for fall armyworm year-round (Early, 2018). Fall Armyworm is also known to undertake seasonal migrations.

The incursion pathways to Australia include anthropogenic routes such as infested commodities in trade, and direct natural dispersal across the Torres Strait/Timor sea to northern Australia. The Northern Australia Quarantine Service (NAQS – Australian Government Department of Agriculture) is conducting surveillance for fall armyworm at strategic locations in Northern Australia. Australia also supports or participates in surveillance and monitoring for fall armyworm (via NAQS) in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste.

Prevention and preparedness activities will reduce risks of establishment and reduce losses if it becomes established in Australia.

Nagoshi et al. 2019; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21954-1

Plant Health Australia Ltd (2015) Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry (Version 3.0 – July 2015). Plant Health Australia, Canberra ACT

Regan Early, (2018) Forecasting the global extent of invasion of the cereal pest Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm. Neobiota 40: 25-50

Investment Description

An investment to estimate potential impacts and prepare industry management options for prevention and preparedness in the event of a possible fall armyworm incursion.

Expected Outcome

By November 2020, the Australian grains industry will be aware of the potential impacts of, be better protected and prepared for, the event of a potential exotic incursion of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) leading to a reduction in risk of establishment and minimising potential damage to the industry.

Expected Outputs

An applicant may tender for this investment as a whole or part thereof e.g. 1 or 2 of the Outputs only. The successful applicant/s would need to work collaboratively with the other successful applicant/s (if applicable) to ensure the Expected Outcome is reached.

Output 1

By August 2020, deliver a RD&E gap analysis for prevention and preparedness options against Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) incursion into Australia, taking into account potential economic impacts, geographic range, affected crops, pest biology, and management implications including resistance profiles and similarity to existing endemic pests. Management options (chemical, biological, genetic pre-breeding, cultural) will be considered in-depth for Australian plant industries with a focus on grains.

Detail: Gap analysis will include pre- and post-incursion R,D&E priority settings, a communication and extension strategy for Fall Armyworm, which may include awareness raising and training opportunities.

Output 2

By November 2020, provide a biology ecology briefing paper on Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) populations threatening to invade Australia via regulated or unregulated pathways, based on characterisation of the strain/s that have recently established in areas to the north of Australia (near neighbours) as well as border interceptions. Information pertinent to management strategies, such as insecticide resistance status, will be delivered. Further detail on taxonomy, mating behaviour and host preferences will be valuable.

Output 3

By August 2020, deliver a contingency plan for Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Detail: Contingency plans to include assessments such as: management options, emergency control options, containment/delimitation feasibility, pest biology, establishment risks, dispersal capacity (including native plant host range), potential plant industry impacts (that may include more detailed predictive modelling of Australian specific scenarios), awareness, risk reduction options (to reduce the likelihood of an incursion), diagnostic, surveillance protocols.

The contingency plan would be used to develop an EPPRD Response Plan to this pest if an incursion occurred. Any Response Plan developed using information in whole or in part from the Contingency Plan must follow procedures as set out in PLANTPLAN (a guideline for responses under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed; EPPRD) and be endorsed by the National Management Group prior to implementation.

Other Instructions:

Proposed Investment

No budget will be provided for this project. The GRDC is focussed on delivering value to the Australian grain grower; therefore, you application must demonstrate fair market value.

This investment will be contracted on a GRDC Standard Research Agreement.

Selection Criteria

1. A clear and thorough plan to achieve the project outputs, specifying:

method to be used (including anticipated statistical analysis capacity)
proposed milestones
proposed locations of field experiments (if required to deliver project outputs)
staffing (including relevant skills, experience and availability of key personnel and proposed subcontractors)
budget (defining the funds sought in each year of the project and the potential investment from all parties (co-investment))
project structure and management arrangements
identification and assessment of significant project risks; and appropriate mitigating controls

2. A clear and thorough plan to deliver the project outcome, specifying:

expected steps to deliver the outcome (pathway to market)
identification of target users of the project outputs (who will the project directly deliver to e.g. grower, adviser, plant breeder, pathologist, the GRDC)
specific information, products and/or services to be delivered to target users
potential for the development of commercial IP

3. Demonstrated track record of the project team, including:

relevant achievements of the project leader in providing leadership, co-ordination, management, monitoring and evaluation and the timely delivery of high quality outputs
relevant technical knowledge and experience of all key personnel (including proposed subcontractors) in the research area
relevant achievements in the delivery of commercial IP (if relevant)
ability of the project team to collaborate with the relevant research organisations and industry personnel to build on the research (national and international) already undertaken in this area.

4. Freedom to operate in regard to the provision of the project outputs to GRDC or a third party if required.

detail any Research Organisation intellectual property that is required to deliver the project outputs and any restrictions that may impact on the provision of project outputs to GRDC or a third party, if required.
detail any third party intellectual property that is required to deliver the project outputs and any restrictions that may impact on the provision of project outputs to GRDC or a third party, if required.
other intellectual property that may impact upon the delivery of project outputs to GRDC or a third party
the approach to be taken to overcome any restrictions identified.

In addition, the following are assessed by the tender evaluation team, but is not expected that the applicant will include specific reference to these criteria.

5. Quality and effectiveness of risk controls

identify risks to project outcome delivery and address management of the risk via risk control measures

6. The cost effectiveness and value for money of the tender response.

Conditions for Participation:

Eligibility Criteria

The Applicant must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners.
The Applicant and any proposed subcontracotrs must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012

Timeframe for Delivery:

This investment will run from February 2020 to December 2020.

Address for Lodgement:

All tender applications must be submitted electronically by completing the online form via the GRDC Grains Investment Portal prior to the closing date for consideration.

Further instructions for applying are outlined on the GRDC Website under Procurements.