Arysta LifeScience today announced that the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has granted commercial registration for one
year to MIDAS(R), a broad-spectrum soil fumigant that effectively
controls a broad range of soil-borne diseases, nematodes, weed seeds
and insects that threaten high-value crops such as ornamentals,
strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, stone fruit, nuts and vines, as well
as turf. MIDAS(R) will be widely available through select fumigant
distributors by October 2007.
MIDAS(R) was developed to help growers with the phase out of
methyl bromide under the Montreal Protocol. Worldwide, about 72,000
tons of methyl bromide are used each year according to U.S. EPA data.
North America uses about 27,000 tons annually, 85 percent of which is
used for soil fumigation. Growers around the world have long relied on
methyl bromide as their choice fumigant and the phase out has left
growers with few effective broad-spectrum choices.
"MIDAS(R) is the fumigant answer for which many growers have been
looking," said Mike Allan, Global Product Manager for MIDAS(R).
"MIDAS(R) is the right foundation for success for growers because it
provides broad-spectrum control of target pests and diseases and uses
conventional application techniques and equipment. MIDAS(R) has been
proven to be as effective as methyl bromide at lower application
rates."
MIDAS(R) is considered a foundation crop protection product
because it is applied pre-plant to bare soil. MIDAS(R) provides
broad-spectrum crop protection which can reduce the overall chemical
need and helps establish a strong healthy crop that delivers high
yields. In trials in the Southeast U.S., half of the growers who
participated saw an increase in yield over their methyl
bromide-treated acreage. The remaining growers saw results similar to
those achieved with methyl bromide.
"This registration, after many years of hard work on the part of
the Arysta team, is further evidence of our company's dedication to
our grower partners," said Bill Lewis, CEO of Arysta LifeScience North
America Corporation. "Throughout the regulatory process, we have
remained committed to our principles of partnership with the
agriculture community."
MIDAS(R) has been in use under an Experimental Use Permit (EUP) in
Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
and Virginia since 2006. The EPA added test acreage in California in
2007. The company used these trials to evaluate efficacy, market
yields and economic comparisons across several crops. Half of the
growers who participated saw, on average, a 19 percent yield increase
compared to methyl bromide on side-by-side trials on commercial
acreage. The remaining growers saw results similar to those achieved
with methyl bromide. Crops raised under the EUP are approved for sale
to the market.
MIDAS(R) is the first new soil fumigant to be registered by the
EPA in 20 years. A comprehensive data package supports the product
label. Arysta is committed to ensuring proper handling and application
of MIDAS(R) through the Arysta Certified Applicator Training Program.
In an effort to further ensure protection of workers and bystanders,
the EPA has implemented buffer zones that are scalable based upon
fumigant rate and number of acres applied. This will allow growers
more control over their fumigant use. MIDAS(R) is approved for use on
strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, ornamentals, stone fruits, nut crops,
vine crops (including table and wine grapes), turf and nursery crops.
Arysta continues to build international support for MIDAS(R) with
trials in many countries including Japan, Australia, New Zealand,
Turkey, Morocco, South Africa, Israel, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil,
Mexico and Chile.
The registration is further evidence of Arysta LifeScience's
presence in the high-value fruit and vegetable crop market, which
represents approximately US$8 billion in sales in 2006. MIDAS(R) is a
complement to the company's existing crop protection products that are
used on crops ranging from corn and soybeans to fruits, nut trees and
nursery crops.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Arysta LifeScience is the world's
largest privately held crop protection and life science company with
2006 revenues of Yen 124.1 billion (US$1 billion). An entrepreneurial
provider of crop protection and life science products in more than 125
countries worldwide, Arysta LifeScience specializes in the marketing
and distribution of respected crop protection brands and life science
products in harmony with the needs of global producers. More
information on the company is available at: www.arystalifescience.com
