Phosphine Fumigation: Unique technology in the world for the control of pests in Chilean fruits in a sustainable and innocuous way
Fumigation with phosphine, contrary to Methyl Bromide, does not damage the fruit, nor does it break the cold chain.
Chile is located as the main exporter of fresh fruits of the Southern Hemisphere, with more than 2 million tons sent to the 2014-2015 season to different markets in the world. But this leadership is not only a matter of volumes, but also of quality and innocuous fruit shipments, which requires a lot of effort and hard work from producers and exporters, but also requires technologies and innovations to ensure sustainability. of production, as well as being free of pests that may represent a risk of rejection in the markets of destination, and what is worse, the closure of them.
In this framework, and after years of research, Fosfoquim SA, a Chilean chemical company, founded in 1986, developed a fumigation technique with phosphine, which it offers throughout Chile and the world, and which allows the elimination of pests in fruits in a harmless way and without damaging the fruit or the environment.
“Currently, there are no other companies that offer the phosphine fumigation service for fresh fruit. The technology we have developed is unique worldwide. There are no other methodologies to apply gaseous phosphine, free of ammonia and at low temperatures like ours”, commented to SimFRUIT, Miguel Rogers, Agronomist and Marketing and Sales Manager of Fosfina at Fosfoquim SA.
Rogers added that developing this technology and commissioning the phosphine fumigation service was possible after long investigations and trial periods. "In 2005 we discovered that if we fumigate the fruit with a high concentration of phosphine at low temperatures under storage conditions, we were able to kill the insects without damaging the fruit", he said.
For all types of fruits
Also the professional stressed that the fumigation with phosphine can be used today for a growing range of fruits and pests. “Today the use of phosphine can be extended beyond the control of pests such as the White Pig. For example, for the last two seasons, we have been carrying out treatments to control Woolly Aphids and San José Scale, processes that are endorsed by the SAG as mitigation treatments. In addition, we are conducting research for the use of phosphine against the codling moth (Cydia pomonella), the grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana), as well as avocado scale, among other pests and fruit species. We are carrying out many of these projects together with USDA research teams”, he remarked.
Today, this Fosfoquim phosphine fumigation technology has been implemented in apples, table grapes, citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, clementines, lemons), pits, pears, avocados, pomegranates, kiwis, among others.
Investigations with the USDA
According to the agronomist, despite the fact that in Chile it has been used commercially for more than a decade, the fumigation of fresh fruit with phosphine is a relatively new technology worldwide, which is why they are working on a series of research projects for Validate the technique for different pests, products and countries. "For many years we have been working in the area of research, both at the level of our own laboratories and research teams, as well as with external organizations such as the Foundation for Fruit Development (FDF) in Chile, and the Agricultural Research Service of the Department United States Department of Agriculture (ARS-USDA, its acronym in English)”, relieved.
In that framework, Rogers said that several years ago they are working on research projects with the ARS-USDA. “We have a laboratory together with the USDA, located at the Fosfoquim headquarters in Padre Hurtado, where we are mainly focused on research related to Chilean pests, such as Brevipalpus chilensis or Arañita Roja”, he said.
It should be noted that in this laboratory, they also carry out the breeding of insects (pests), for the implementation of tests and studies that allow testing the fumigation technology with phosphine.
“In addition to the studies in Chile, we carry out research in the United States. For example, the studies that we have done on Lobesia botrana for table grapes and blueberries, on spotted wing flies (Drosophila suzukii) have been carried out together with USDA personnel there. While the investigations on the Brevipalpus chilensis, we have done them all here. Today, we are also working together with ASOEX and FDF to carry out studies and validate phosphine mitigation treatments to control Lobesia botrana for fruit destined for markets such as China and to control avocado scales.", he explained.
Services
Miguel Rogers stressed that Fosfoquim SA, has different developments and services in three specific areas: Chemical Area, Mining Area, and Agricultural Area. “The mining and chemical part is related, mainly to large copper mining and the export of products. While in the case of the agricultural area we currently offer phosphine fumigation technologies and services, and now we are preparing to offer two new lines of products, pre-harvest fertilizers and insecticides”, Dijo.
Regarding phosphine fumigation services, the agronomist informed that in Chile, the companies contract the fumigation service with phosphine, through which a team of professionals, specially trained, from Fosfoquim, travels - in a vehicle neatly equipped- to the area in which the fruit is stored (cold chamber) and proceeds to perform the operation.
“Today in Chile there are approximately 150 fumigation chambers set up between Copiapó and Angol, duly certified by the SAG, where the fruit is fumigated with phosphine. However, the exposure time to phosphine will depend on the type of product that you want to fumigate, and the pest that you want to control, which can be between 24 and 48 hours in most cases."informed Rogers.
Another important point of the process is that, when contracting the fumigation service with phosphine, the client does not need to have permits from the authorities as a fumigant company, nor worry about the elimination of waste, having the necessary implements to execute the fumigation or counting with a team of workers trained in this type of process, since all this is for Fosfoquim. "The client only has to ensure that they have the cold fruit in the cold room, and we see the rest", the representative said.
Currently, the company performs phosphine fumigation services in Argentina, Chile and the United States (California). But they also export the technology to other countries such as Australia, Uruguay, South Korea, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United States, among others.
In international matters, Rogers said: "Today, the main worldwide user of pure phosphine for fumigation of fresh fruit is Chile, and this condition represents a very important competitive advantage for the agro-export industry, managing to reach more distant markets with fruit in good condition, free of pests, complying with with the maximum limits of pesticide residues”.
A Noble Technology
Regarding the fumigation with phosphine and its possible effects on the condition of the fruit, the professional pointed out: “This technology has proven to be quite noble. For example, residues are not detected in fruit fumigated with phosphine between 6 and 72 hours after application, depending on the type of fruit, which is very good for a post-harvest treatment.".
Rogers also stressed that fumigation with phosphine, contrary to what happens with methyl bromide, does not damage the condition of the fruit, nor does it require breaking the cold chain of the fruit. "Fumigation with phosphine can be done at the fruit's storage temperature, without breaking the cold chain, which makes it possible to ensure the condition of the fruit for a longer time, especially if it concerns products that go to distant markets such as Asia. Currently, one out of every four boxes of fruit that we treat is exported to Asia.", Hill
Source: SimFruit
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