The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) is now established in Vanuatu, and authorities are turning to long-term biological control measures to manage its impact on the agriculture sector.

The Department of Biosecurity has introduced two main control measures: fungus and virus V23B. Principal Biosecurity Officer, Mr. Lindon Tari, confirmed on the Radio Vanuatu Productive Sector show that CRB is now a persistent pest in the country.

While there is no exact timeline for eliminating CRB, Mr. Tari said the effectiveness of the new introduced Metarhizium fungus Oryctes nudivirus biocontrol agents offers hope. “One of the developments is that biological control measures are working well in Vanuatu. If the Department continues to release the biological control agents, it will help reduce the cost of CRB management and allow officers to mass-produce agents in the lab for release in the affected areas,” he said.

The Department is also planning to establish a laboratory in Port Vila to produce biological control agents for release on affected islands. The facility is expected to strengthen long-term CRB management, particularly on islands like Efate and Santo.However, remote islands such as Epi face ongoing challenges due to limited resources.

CRB Coordinator, Mr. Joe Pakoawia, highlighted that the main focus of the program is shifting towards these biological control measures. Plans include importing the fungus from Malaysia and V23B vials from AgResearch in New Zealand and providing training to upskill Biosecurity officers in rearing and releasing both the fungus and virus.

Mr. Tari emphasized that the future of CRB control in Vanuatu will depend on collaboration between the Department, donor partners, communities, and the nation as a whole. He noted that lessons from other Pacific countries like PNG and the Solomon Islands show that identifying effective control measures can take years, but Vanuatu has acted quickly to implement fungus and virus-based solutions.

The Department remains optimistic that continued releases of biological control agents will reduce CRB populations over time, helping Vanuatu to protect its coconut and palm industries while maintaining sustainable pest management practices.