Biological control, or biocontrol, is the use of a living organism, or the product of a living organism, to control the numbers of another organism, usually a pest. The potential advantages of biocontrol methods are that they are (a) sustainable and (b) very specific to the species being controlled.
Using a hormone toxin
Using a nematode worm to distribute the hormone toxin
A longer term, more sustainable option, is to distribute the toxin using a nematode worm — a parasite that is found naturally in possums and that could be used to spread the toxin amongst the possum population (if baits are used, they would need to be reapplied).
Genetically modifying the nematode worm
The nematode worm would need to be genetically modified to produce the toxin. The biotechnology in this context involves the use of one living organism (the modified nematode) to control another (possums).
End of the projects
Significant research effort and resources were put into possum contraceptive vaccines and hormone toxins. Funding for the projects finished in September 2010.
