FFAR Grant Targets Pest Threatening California’s Nut Industry

California’s almond and pistachio orchards face major losses from the navel orangeworm, the state’s most destructive tree nut pest, which costs growers more than $800 million annually. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Almond Board of California are matching funds to provide a grant totaling $4,994,419 to Flyttr™ to develop a biological tool that reduces the pest’s threat. The project aims to cut crop loss and lower reliance on chemical insecticides for nut growers in California and other states, and ensure food safety for consumers.

The research will accelerate development of Flyttr’s Friendly navel orangeworm solution, which involves releasing Friendly male moths into pest-affected areas. When these males mate with wild females, the result is no surviving offspring, so, with sustained releases, the pest population declines over time. The Friendly approach is biological, non-toxic and does not harm non-target species like butterflies and bees. This work with navel orangeworm follows more than a decade of deployments of Friendly solutions to combat other crop pests and disease-transmitting mosquitoes across four continents. In addition to accelerating the development of this navel orangeworm solution, FFAR’s funding will also support research in large-scale production systems and field studies to prepare the technology for future use in California orchards.

The potential economic benefits of this investment are significant for farmers. By moving the technology closer to commercial readiness and generating data to support future use in orchards, the application has the potential to reduce pest management costs, protect crop yields and decrease dependence on conventional chemical controls. This new approach may also help limit pesticide exposure risks to pollinators and other beneficial insects and contribute to a reliable supply of high-quality almonds and pistachios for consumers.

FFAR is investing in this research to complement USDA’s Research and Development Priority of Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers.

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR 

About Flyttr

Flyttr is the biosecurity platform for managing the world’s most critical biological pest threats.

About California Almonds

California Almonds make life better by what we grow and how we grow. The Almond Board of California promotes natural, wholesome and quality almonds through leadership in strategic market development, innovative research, and accelerated adoption of industry best practices on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond farmers and processors in California, most of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information visit almonds.org: Zero Waste – Using Everything an Orchard Grows