Pesticide Potpourri
- Dr. Marjorie Hoy of UF/IFAS recently returned from Mauritius, where she conducted foreign exploration for predatory mites that suppress red palm mite, Raoiella indica, populations. Dr. Hoy returned with predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) that appear to be excellent natural enemies and hopes that colonies can be established for evaluation in quarantine. The red palm mite is an invasive pest in the Caribbean that recently colonized Puerto Rico and is expected to invade Florida soon. It is a pest of palms and, in the Caribbean, attacks bananas and plantains, as well. (UF/IFAS Entomology/Nematology Department Newsletter, October, 2007).
- The Publix supermarket chain is opening its first GreenWise store in Palm Beach Gardens, which will carry a majority of organic and health foods. It's one of several stores they plan to open under the name of their private label. The GreenWise branded store will face competition from mainstream grocers that have increased their health food sections and organic mainstays such as Whole Foods Market. For Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets, it's the next step in trying to capture more of the fast-growing organic food segment after it started selling organic and natural products under its GreenWise brand eight years ago. (AP, 9/25/07).
- Florida citrus growers are fighting a plant disease with the potential to destroy the state's orange juice industry. Since citrus greening was found in Miami-Dade County in September 2005, it has spread to 27 of Florida's 32 citrus-producing counties, and that the latest confirmed discovery was in a grove in St. Johns County in north Florida. Tim Gast, a horticulturist at Southern Gardens Citrus, one of Florida's largest growers, with 2.3 million trees, was quoted as saying, “It’s the most serious disease in the industry,” adding that the company has cut down more than 100,000
infected trees. Michael Sparks, chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, a trade group, was cited as saying the threat to Florida's industry - which saw sales of $1.4 billion in 2006 - is enormous, adding, “The worse-case scenario is you can lose the entire industry. Let's pay attention and nip this in the bud.” So far in the United States, it has shown up only in Florida, which provides 80 percent of the U.S.A.'s orange juice, according to Florida Citrus Mutual, which represents 8,000 growers. Michael Rogers, an entomologist at UF/IFAS, was cited as saying that Brazilian growers have been battling it for 10 years, and that infection rates in Brazilian groves where the insects were not controlled rose to 40 percent from two percent in three years. (USA Today, 10/2/07).
- The Indian government is apparently considering a proposal that genetically modified crops, apart from passing several other field trials, also have to prove that they are nutritionally superior to their conventional counterparts before they can be cultivated in any scale. The Indian Supreme Court may have lifted an eight-month ban on field trials of genetically modified plants earlier in the year, but if the government decides to go ahead with this proposal, it will make it tougher for any GM crop to make the grade. GM crops are usually cultivated because they promise high yields and are pest-resistant. Vasantha Muthuswamy, senior deputy director general, Indian Council of Medical Research, who helped draft the guidelines, was quoted as saying, “A GM tomato can’t just be big and juicy, but will have to prove that it’s better than what you get now.” (HT Media, 9/19/07).
- Farming and crop protection groups across Europe are stepping up their campaign to halt proposed EU legislation which would mean the disappearance of many important pesticides from the market. The European Crop Protection Association and its national branches, including the UK Crop Protection Association, have launched Understand the Impact to explain the serious consequences of the new legislation. Environmental Ministers will receive electronic postcards profiling European farmers and the effects of the proposed changes. (Farming Views, 9/24/07).
- China is going all out in a nationwide agricultural swoop to halt the use of banned pesticides and limit animal feed additives and fertilizers. Since a crackdown was launched in August, ten people have been arrested, 95 companies without appropriate licenses closed, and the business licenses of another six firms revoked. The figures were released by Gao Hongbin, vice minister of agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture is “targeting 100 percent surveillance of large- and medium-sized cities” in the hunt for illegal pesticides and feed additives, Gao told a press conference in Beijing. Gao said authorities are also targeting the illegal production, sale and application of five types of pesticides. (Shanghai Daily, 9/25/07).
- By destroying farm fields, the opponents of genetic engineering devastate research projects, cause harvest losses, and create millions in economic damage. In a recent letter claiming responsibility, a militant group of biotechnology opponents now threaten to prevent the harvest of GM corn across Germany by concealing metal objects in fields. With the pretext of protecting the environment, this is intended to prevent a harvest of grain which has been duly certified and determined to be safe. This shows that they assign little value to expensive harvest machinery, and to human safety as well. It was sheer luck that nobody was hurt in Brandenburg when rocks attached to maize plants caused severe damages to a combine. “Destruction tourism” was first enabled by the public location register introduced in 2005, which is the perfect “travel guide” for locating fields of GM corn. (Federal Association of German Plant Breeders, 9/21/07).
- California recalled 300,000 Chinese-made lunch boxes it had passed out to promote healthy eating. At least some of the lunch coolers contained unsafe levels of lead. “It's unfortunate that an item we’re using hopefully to promote healthy behavior is discovered itself to be a potential health hazard,” said state health director Dr. Mark Horton. (LA Times, 9/20/07).
