Australian researchers have developed a pest control treatment that has opened up the Chinese market for Queensland nectarine growers, the Queensland state government announced on Thursday.
Summer fruits such as nectarines from Queensland state had to either be sourced from a pest free area, or undergo pest control treatment before leaving Australia to numerous countries such as China because of concerns about particular pests such as Queensland fruit fly.
Queensland state agriculture minister Leanne Donaldson said it was a major breakthrough.
"Their development of a low dose treatment for Queensland fruit fly has created a new market for nectarines and there are hopes that producers of other fruits and vegetables will also benefit," Donaldson said.
"China is Australia's largest agricultural export market, with total exports in 2015 worth almost 11 billion Australian dollars (7.96 billion U.S. dollars)."
Donaldson said Australia had been working with China for many years to gain market access for summer fruit.
"Now, thanks to the excellent research from our scientists, we can send our nectarines which previously could not be exported until China completed its risk analysis," Donaldson noted.
"Combined with upcoming tariff reductions under the the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), export opportunities for our growers are significant."
