Australia boosts funding for invasive fire ant eradication efforts

Canberra [Australia], January 23: Australian governments have increased funding for eradication efforts for the red imported fire ant (RIFA).
Murray Watt, the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, on Monday announced that federal, state and territory governments have committed 592.8 million Australian dollars (389.4 million U.S. dollars) to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program 2023-2027 Response Plan.
Native to South America, the RIFA can cause structural problems for infrastructure assets by building nests under structures and devastate agriculture industries by damaging crops and machinery. In rare cases their venomous sting can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction in humans.
According to the 2023-2027 plan, the RIFA is capable of establishing colonies in 99 percent of mainland Australia and if it is not eradicated in the country the species will cause in excess of 1.25 billion AUD (821.3 million USD) worth of damage every year.
In Australia the ants have mostly been contained to the north-eastern state of Queensland -- where they were first detected in 2001 -- but Watt said on Monday that a national biosecurity response was critical to stop their spread.
"Eradicating fire ants is not an easy task -- many countries have tried and failed, but we have been largely successful in containing their spread," he said in a statement.
"The plan uses the best available science, technology, and innovative approaches to deliver efficiencies and maximise resource allocation."
Of the total funding commitment, 296 million AUD (194.4 million USD) will come from the federal government, with the governments of Australia's seven mainland states and territories to provide the rest.
Source: Xinhua