Pesticide Banned By UN Used To Grow Australian Strawberries

According a latest report, at least 70 percent of Australian strawberries are being grown on runners that have been sterilized with an environmentally damaging pesticide. Some strawberry runner growers in the country use an odourless and colourless chemical called methyl bromide, which was previously banned worldwide under the United Nations’ Montreal Protocol in 1989.

Although Australia agreed to eliminate the pesticide back in 2005, as many as nine strawberry firms at Toolangi, in Victoria's Yarra Valley, are using nearly 30 tonnes of it every year. They produce 100 million strawberry runners a year, amounting to about 70 per cent of Australian strawberries. In fact, they have been applying to the UN for an exemption from the ban.

Dr. Ian Porter, the co-chair of the UN Methyl Bromide Technical Options committee said the situation was frustrating. However, he added, they have already got rid of 85 percent of methyl bromide, which is a great victory for mankind. The Environmental Justice Australia was also worried that the strawberry growers are going against the ban. Its chief executive, Brendan Sydes thinks, if the consumers knew about it, they would also be concerned that the strawberries they are consuming are creating environmental damages.

Undoubtedly, the strawberry growers are not too happy about the move. They say, if the ban on methyl bromide is implemented, the $400 million strawberry industry will see a lot of negative changes. It will not only risk more than 15,000 jobs, but also lead to an increase in strawberry prices.

The nine strawberry runner growers using the harmful chemical have declined to speak to the media, but said in a statement that the banning would threat the Australian strawberry industry. "Consumers would have reduced availability of fresh, delicious, Australian-grown strawberries," it said.

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