Young environmental leaders in the Riverland
May 2025
More than 60 of the Riverland’s brightest scientific minds attended the Young Environmental Leaders (YEL) forum on 3 April to investigate how insects, including fruit fly, impact our lives.
Hosted by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, year 5 and 6 students from 12 Riverland schools attended the Loxton Research Centre to hear from a range of guest speakers, including those from:
- Biological Services
- South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
- PIRSA’s Fruit Fly Response.
Students were asked to come up with their own ideas to fight the spread of fruit fly, and the highly creative ‘insect innovators’ jumped right in. Designs included a time machine, grenades loaded with sterile insects, and one group even invented gene-spliced Venus-fly-fruits that would eat fruit flies who tried to lay eggs.
Acting General Manager, Fruit Fly Response, Jason Size said the event was important to the fruit fly response.
“Engaging with schools and students about the outbreak is vital,” Mr Size said.
“Young people can become strong advocates in the fight against fruit fly and form lifelong habits around checking fruit, disposing of waste properly, and understanding pest control.
“It also encourages change in habits at home, since kids often share what they learn with their families and friends.”
When the students returned to school, they presented what they learned at assembly, sharing knowledge of how we can work together to combat the spread of fruit fly in South Australia.
More information
- Read how to Protect your home garden from fruit fly
- Check our Schools resource kit to find educational activities for classrooms
- Contact the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 if you have any questions
- Subscribe for email updates