A newly introduced interactive tool aims to assist apple and grape producers in New Zealand by offering insights into how climate change could influence the prevalence and economic repercussions of certain plant diseases. This tool, developed within the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge and funded by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, enables users to input the location of their orchards or vineyards to assess the potential risk and financial impacts of apple fire blight, grape powdery mildew, and grape botrytis under various climate change projections.
Mike Barley, director of HortPlus, describes the tool as "a portal into the future," facilitating climate adaptation planning by providing accessible information on the expected shifts in plant disease risks and the associated cost implications for the apple and winegrowing sectors. The development of this tool was a collaborative effort involving HortPlus, Plant & Food Research, NIWA, the Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit, and Applied Research & Technologies, combining expertise in agri-tech, disease and climate modeling, economic analysis, and disease model reviews.
Source: farmersweekly.co.nz
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