The funding will be used to protect the state's pest-free status by supporting significant emergency fruit fly response activities, ensuring continuity for the state's horticultural products.
The $25 million funding is part of the 2023/24 State Budget.
It follows a recent announcement that the Port Augusta facility that breeds sterile fruit flies will undergo a $3 million expansion.
The National Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) facility's capacity to produce sterile Queensland Fruit Flies will be doubled to 40 million, with most of the flies to be released into the Riverland to deal with current outbreaks.
The centre's expansion is expected to be completed by spring 2023, with the additional flies - which help in the fight against fruit fly by mating with wild flies and resulting in no fertile offspring - released into the region later this year.
It is being funded under the $30 million Australian Government National Building Resilience to Manage Fruit Fly program with additional contributions from PIRSA and Citrus SA.
The expansion announcement follows news the distinct orange overall uniforms worn by fruit fly field teams have been replaced with a more professional and practical outfit.
Field staff will now wear beige tops, navy pants and a PIRSA branded high vis yellow vest while undergoing biosecurity inspections of backyards and premises.
PIRSA Incident Controller of the Fruit Fly Response Rob Baker said the new uniform was more "functional and comfortable" because previously staff wore another outfit underneath the thick overalls.
"The orange overalls were due to be replaced as they were no longer fit for purpose, so we've used this as an opportunity to review the uniform and make cost effective changes," Mr Baker said.
Citrus SA Chair Mark Doecke said the SIT facility, which opened in 2016, had been a crucial element in managing fruit fly outbreaks within the state.
“The initiatives being proposed under the National Building Resilience to Manage Fruit fly program will go a long way towards retaining market confidence in our premium produce," Mr Doecke said.
“Citrus SA looks forward to continuing to work with PIRSA to maximise the use of this SIT resource.”
In December 2022, the State Government launched a major awareness campaign – Don’t let fruit fly under the radar – featuring local Riverland growers and community members, where outbreaks are currently concentrated.
Dino, from Cotsaris Cherries in the Riverland, said horticulture was the backbone of the Riverland’s economy.
"It employs not just growers but pickers, pack houses, traders, horticulture retailers and local businesses,” Dino said.
“Getting rid of fruit fly will not only benefit growers but it will help keep the whole Riverland prosperous.”
South Australia is the only mainland Australian state that is free from fruit fly – meaning that our producers and growers have access to lucrative export markets and require fewer chemical treatments of their fruit and vegetables.
Fruit fly is one of the world's most destructive pests - turning healthy crops into inedible mush - and threatens our state’s $1.3 billion horticultural industry.
For more information about fruit fly, visit the fruit fly website or call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
