A successful model for community-driven research: The Hieracium Control Trust in New Zealand

The Hieracium Control Trust (HCT) was established in 1992 by a group of farmers keen to promote the development of a biological control programme for Pilosella and Hieracium spp. (hawkweeds), with support from Landcare Research and AgResearch. Over 15 years, the HCT raised over NZ$2 million to fund the survey, screening and introduction of one pathogen and five insect control agents. Releases were made at over 260 sites and control agents have been recovered from over 150 sites. Although agents released have been slow to impact on hawkweed populations, recent data from the North Island indicated that hawkweed gall midges were responsible for a 26% reduction in hawkweed cover. The HCT also leveraged about NZ$500 000 from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST), which was used to fund complementary work to assess the significance of existing phytophagous species feeding on hawkweeds and to conduct a simulation study of successful biological control. The hawkweed biological control programme generated in excess of eight refereed papers, 8 conference papers, two PhD theses and 20 reports. Direct funding came from more than 30 organizations, as well as individual farmer contributions. This model, established by the HCT, was adopted by other programmes, both in New Zealand (for broom and Californian thistle) and overseas (for hawkweeds in Idaho and Montana).