The grant, announced Wednesday by officials from the state
Department of Pesticide Regulation and the California Strawberry
Commission in a research field near Monterey Bay Academy, will
expand a study into the replacement of soil with an alternative
growing medium, such as peat or coconut fiber. "We really want
to work with the industry to look at fumigants," said Brian
Leahy, director of the pesticide agency. "They are very intense,
and we have to find all kinds of alternatives to get away from
these most toxic chemicals." Fumigants are used before planting
to kill pests, weeds and pathogens. If a sterile growing medium
can be found, they would no longer be necessary. That's
important because methyl bromide, the ozone-depleting fumigant
strawberry growers have long relied on, is being phased out
under international treaty, and the main contender for a
chemical replacement is the highly controversial methyl iodide.
In the past 20 years, the California Strawberry Commission has
spent more than $11 million loo