EPA Honors Arysta For Ozone-Protecting Products
11 May 2009 The Ozone Layer Protection Award places Arysta LifeScience North America among the world’s most accomplished individuals and organizations
working to protect the Earth’s ozone layer. MIDAS, a broad spectrum fumigant used before planting, controls a wide array of pests, weeds, and plant diseases. It was registered by the EPA in 2007 for use in agricultural crops and turf.
“This recognition by the EPA is a great honor for Arysta worldwide and it validates our longstanding belief in the chemistry and benefit MIDAS brings to the agricultural industry,” said CEO Bill Lewis, Arysta LifeScience North America. “The best agricultural chemistry researchers in the nation have worked tirelessly to bring this product to market. As a result, we have already helped eliminate tons of an ozone depleting substance from being released into our environment.”
MIDAS is one of the most comprehensively researched agricultural compounds ever brought to market, says Arysta. Iodomethane, an active ingredient in MIDAS, was licensed from the University of California Riverside, afterwhich Arysta spent seven years bringing it to market. The company conducted a full-scale research program, extensive toxicology studies, and developed state-of-the-art pharmacokinetic and exposure models to support the product’s registration.
MIDAS has been used to fumigate thousands of acres in the southeastern United States with results growers say are comparable, and often better, than those achieved with methyl bromide, according to Arysta. Growers also say the operational transition to iodomethane is easily made. Arysta has increased production of MIDAS to increase availability to growers in the face of future methyl bromide reductions mandated by the Montreal Protocol.
MIDAS is approved for use on high value crops including ornamentals, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, tree fruit, nuts, and vines, as well as turf. MIDAS is registered in 47 US states and is available through select fumigant distributors.
Researchers recognized with Arysta LifeScience North America include Husein Ajwa, University of California-Davis, USDA-ARS; Joe Noling, University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center; Dan Chellemi, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory; Erin Rosskopf, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory; Greg Browne, University of California-Davis Department of Plant Pathology; and Frank Sances, Pacific Ag Research, Inc.
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