KVH recently attended the latest Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting for the Protecting Aotearoa from wind-dispersed pests research programme, led by the Scion group at the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI).

The programme aims to strengthen New Zealand's biosecurity system by developing tools to predict when insects and plant pathogens may arrive and spread via wind-assisted pathways.

KVH is one of several industry organisations represented on the PAC, alongside members from government, research organisations, regional councils, and other primary sector groups. The PAC helps ensure the knowledge generated by the programme is translated into practical outcomes and provides guidance on research priorities, communication pathways, and end-user needs.

At the recent meeting, researchers shared progress on understanding how insects and pathogens survive long-distance atmospheric transport, improving models that predict pest movement, and analysing intercepted insects to better understand where they originate.

The overall aim of the programme is to develop the Aerobiological Surveillance and Prediction System (ASaP), an early warning tool designed to identify periods and locations of increased risk for wind-borne pest arrivals, helping improve surveillance of this pathway.

For the kiwifruit industry, this research has the potential to improve preparedness and support more targeted surveillance for offshore pest and disease threats. As climate patterns continue to change, understanding how wind-assisted pathways influence pest movements will become increasingly important for protecting New Zealand's horticultural industries and natural environments.

Visit the programme website or sign up for their biannual newsletter, Blown Away.