Proceedmae of the 7th International Working Conference on Stored-product Protection - Volume 1

Controlled atmosphere disinfestion of grain - is it time yet?(abstract only)

H J. Banks'

Abstract

At this tune, worldwide, there are few commercialapplications of controlled atmospheres for storage of drygrain. Essentially, CAprocesses await application when theopportunity anses. Reqmrements (dosage rates andexposures, sealing level of structures, mechanicalrequirements, logistic needs) for use of either mtrogen orCOz-based atmospheres are well estabhshed. Commercialscale proving trials have been successfully carried out on awide variety of structures.Pnncipal constraints on CAuse are the long exposure time

required to kill some pests, cost of supply of the gases andthe perception that a very high standard of gastightness is

1 Stored Gram Research Laboratory, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra,ACT 2601, Australia

required for successful treatments However, all of theseconstraints can be overcome m practice, and the benefits ofuse of CAs compared WIth chemical fumigants can be high.High pressure COz has recently been adopted as a rapiddisinfestation treatment for some high value commodities insmall lots.Examples of current Australian commercial CA treatments

of bulk gram are given, together with a discussion of thereasons why CA use IS particularly appropriate in theseinstances-disinfestation of bulk gram for an organic' marketWIth COz and routine treatment of bulk export gram WIthnitrogen in place of methyl bromide and phosphine.

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