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Committee advances funding for research into nematode biocontrol to fight Queensland longhorned beetle
Summary
The committee passed HB2139 to fund University of Hawaii research into treatments for the Queensland longhorned beetle, with researchers urging investment to scale up a locally sourced, nontoxic nematode biocontrol that has shown promising results in trial sites.
The House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems voted to pass HB2139, which would allocate funds to the University of Hawaii to study effective treatment methods to reduce populations of the Queensland longhorned beetle (QLB).
The bill’s backers said the beetle is killing canopy species and threatening farms and restoration sites across East Hawaii. "This research will contribute to reducing QLB populations in East Hawaii and support growers in protecting their trees using a nontoxic method," said Emma Steerhoff, lead ecological technician for the Pilina Forest Restoration…
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