Methyl bromide has long been the viable fumigant to protect U.S. agriculture from certain insect pests that may ride on imported produce.

At a few locations along the Delaware River seaports, methyl bromide fumigates Chilean grapes. Despite years of research there has been no replacement for methyl bromide, which, while very effective it is highly regulated under various state and federal air quality standards.

Work to destroy methyl bromide before it is released into the atmosphere is under way this year in Philadelphia.

The dockside warehouse of Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ, is used during the Chilean grape season as a major fumigation point. This year this warehouse is the site being used to research gathering and destroying methyl bromide after the fumigation process.Western Fumigation, based in Lester, PA, is collaborating with Spencer Walse, a research chemist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service to recapture and destroy aerated methyl bromide after the fumigation process. Walse leads a research team of researchers, who represent a range of university researchers and industry consultants, according to Miriam Borja-Fisher, senior business development manager for Western. Walse’s work, originally funded by a government grant, has been under way for five years.

Walse works from Parlier, CA, at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center.

Holt Logistics is the host of the scrubbing research at its Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ.

Kurt Reichert, director of fumigation for Western, indicated that this research, which began in February, will run through this calendar year.

The ongoing research is constantly tweaking a new technology that captures the methyl bromide after the fumigation process. “It’s an attempt to destroy as much methyl bromide as possible,” said Reichert.

The Philadelphia port industry publication, The Beacon, noted, “With over 70 receivers bringing nearly 30 million cases of grapes from Chile and kiwi through Delaware River ports each season, safe and efficient handling of these cargos are paramount.”

When the research data collection is complete, the findings will be “shared with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which is overseeing the project. Results will be presented publicly at the 2017 Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions,” The Beacon reported.

Borja-Fisher said the research will be shared with the port community upon completion.