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4,000
Year Old Science Comes to the Rescue
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An
award-winning team of researchers at Britain's National Resources
Institute (NRI) arer helping modern farmers protect their stored grain
from insects by using a technology originally used in China 4,000
years ago.
The team has been exploring the pest control properties of diatomaceous
earth (DE) which, when processed into fine dust and mixed with grain,
breaks down the waxy outer layer of an insects exoskeleton causing
it to die from dehydration.
It is suspected that the Chinese first experimented with the dust
after watching birds and mammals bathing in it to get rid of parasites.
DE begins as the fossilized remains of phytoplankton and is a naturally
occurring rock found in many parts of the world. Trials carried out
in Zimbabwe proved that the rock is just as effective as modern chemical
pestisides, and is much safer. The rock is virtually non-toxic to
humans and other mammals. The Zimbabwe study also found that it remained
effective for up to eight months.
NRI researcher, Tanya Stathers commented, "Farmers in Africa
are concerned about the health implications of mixing conventional
pesticides with their stored grain. The cost is also prohibitive for
many farmers and the pesticides are not easy to obtain. DE could offer
a locally available, cheaper, healthier and more environmentally friendly
alternative. It is already being used in large-scale grain treatment
in Australia."
In addition to making farming communities in the developing world
less vulnerable to famine, the ability to store grain for long periods
without fear of spoilage would give them the ability to delay sale
until market prices are more advantageous.
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Today
in history... |
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68 - Roman
Emperor, Nero commits suicide at the age of 31. Initially
a popular ruler, it didn't take him long to mess things up.
Killing his mother didn't do much for his rep, either.
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