A new project is set to finalise research to commercially deliver flies as a pollination solution for Australian horticulture growers. With wild pollinator populations in decline, honeybee health under increasing threat and continued diversification of crops and cropping systems, the need for a range of complementary pollination strategies has never been greater. This project will evaluate the risks of mass fly release, costs, and benefits of using selected fly species for pollination, while developing scalable rearing and deployment pathways in collaboration with commercial partners.
Led by SeedPurity and funded by Hort Innovation through the Hort Frontiers Pollination Fund, the project builds on foundational work from the earlier initiative Managing flies for crop pollination (PH16002). It will advance four promising fly species - Eristalis tenax, Eristalinus punctulatus, Calliphora dubia, and Calliphora vicina - as complementary pollinators in targeted cropping systems.
Brett Fifield, CEO at Hort Innovation, shared how this could be a gamechanger for industry: "Flies have already demonstrated strong pollination potential in crops like avocado, cherry and vegetable seeds. This project is all about equipping growers with more reliable, flexible pollination tools to safeguard yields and future-proof production."
"With pests like Varroa mite impacting many beekeepers around the country, we are exploring pollination alternatives and pollination protection strategies to ensure that Australian growers and consumers can continue to produce and enjoy our delicious Australian fruit, vegetables, and nuts all year round."
The selected fly species have demonstrated strong foraging behaviour, adaptability to diverse environments, and resilience under conditions where honeybee performance may be limited.
Cameron Spurr, lead researcher at seedPurity, said the selected fly species offer distinct advantages for horticultural pollination: "These flies are not just substitutes - they bring unique strengths to the pollination landscape. For example, Eristalis tenax is highly effective in cooler climates and, when used in combination with honeybees, often enhances pollination outcomes, whereas Calliphorids are robust and easy to rear at scale. This project will help unlock their full potential for horticulture growers."
The research will also deliver a fly-specific risk assessment framework to guide safe deployment and explore strategies to optimise pollination outcomes.
"Growers are increasingly looking for reliable, flexible pollination options that suit their crops and regions. This project is about future-proofing pollination by adding managed fly species to the toolkit" added Fifield.
This project (PH24002) is funded by Hort Innovation through the Hort Frontiers Pollination Fund, with co-investment from the avocado, and apple and pear research and development levies, Bejo Seeds, South Pacific Seeds and research providers, seedPurity, WA DPIRD, UNE and QUT.
