New Fumigant Developed By Japanese

Specialty crop producers throughout the world are one step closer to a practical alternative to methyl bromide.

Arysta LifeScience Corporation announced today it received registration on November 2 for Iodomethane for broad-spectrum insect control on imported timber from Japan. This is the world's first registration of Iodomethane, which has been developed globally by Arysta.

Imodomethane has been developed by the Methyl Bromide Alternative Urgent Development Program supported by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Iodomethane's Japanese registration is the result of a collaboration involving the Japan Fumigation Technology Association and Yokohama Plant Protection Station.

While the target crop is imported timber, only, Arysta has been developing the product as a soil fumigant. It controls a broad range of soil-borne diseases, nematodes, weeds and fungi in high-value crops.

Non-food crop production (turf, cut flowers) and perennial crop replant (orchards and vine crops) are also proimising Iodomethane applicaitons.

According to Dr. Christropher Richards, president and CEO of Arysta LifeScience Corporation, the Japanese registration is the first step in the eventual worldwide use of Iodomethane. The Japanese registration is the first step in the eventual worldwide use of Iodomethane.

"The speciality crop market is set to receive a new fumigant and practical allternative to methyl bromide," he says. "In numerous research trails, Iodomethane has been shown to be as effective as a methyl bromide against target pests and diseases. Because of its broad-spectrum control, Iodomethane will be a critical alternative as growers approach the 2005 phase-out of methyl bromide."