The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded two
"Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards" to
Dow AgroSciences LLC at the
Earth Technologies Forum in Washington, D.C. The awards
recognized efforts at corporate and field levels for the
development of alternatives to methyl bromide, a widely used
agricultural and structural fumigant.
"We are very pleased that our commitment to developing
alternatives has been so favorably recognized," said Charlie
Fischer, president and CEO of
Dow AgroSciences. "The work of our employees and others in
the scientific community has been very important in providing
alternatives for the required phaseout of methyl bromide."
Methyl bromide has been identified internationally as a
substance that depletes the earth’s protective ozone layer. The
fumigant is scheduled for phaseout in developed countries in
2005 under an international agreement known as the Montreal
Protocol.
"Methyl bromide is one of the most ozone-destructive
chemicals currently manufactured in the world. It has been used
widely in protecting our food supply through soil fumigation,
quarantine/preshipment treatment, and structural fumigation,"
said Drusilla Hufford, director of EPA’s Global Programs
Division. "The award winners have shown that alternatives to
methyl bromide are available and practical, and they are leading
the farming and food industries through their environmental
stewardship."
EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation recognized Dow AgroSciences
for the company’s long-term commitment to develop two of its
products as alternatives to methyl bromide. Telone* soil
fumigant is registered and sold for agriculture uses, and is
already replacing methyl bromide in some crops. ProFume* gas
fumigant for post-harvest protection will be available by 2005.
A Florida-based team of Dow AgroSciences field employees and
independent researchers was specifically recognized for
developing new ways to use Telone in agriculture. This work
involved extensive research to develop new application
techniques and use recommendations for many fruit and vegetable
crops where methyl bromide has been widely used.
Methyl bromide is a soil fumigant which, when injected into
soil, controls root-eating nematodes, soil-borne diseases and
weeds. Dow AgroSciences has developed techniques and
formulations for using Telone through new application methods,
such as drip fumigation, to give growers more flexibility.
In post-harvest situations, methyl bromide has been used to
fumigate dried fruits, nuts, grain and other stored products to
ensure that no insects are present. Extensive research and
experimental use trials have shown that ProFume can replace
methyl bromide in many such uses, and federal registration for
some commercial uses is expected this year.
