FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov 6, 2022Amy Doherty, Marketing Director
Lisi Global, Inc.
USDA/NIFA grant awarded to evaluate Lisi Global’s directed energy technology as a replacement for methyl bromide fumigation.
Richland, WA: LISI GLOBAL, Inc., today announced its participation in the latest US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant focused on methyl bromide replacement. In partnership with researchers from Oregon State University and the USDA Agriculture Research Service at OSU, Lisi Global will adapt its breakthrough Directed Energy technology to explore alternative approaches to soil fumigation using electric pulses applied to the soil to control target organisms, and continuous electrical current to heat the soil as a means of disinfection. The two-year study also includes economic analysis to determine how cost-effective these pest management tools will be.
“This is an important opportunity to expand DE Technology into agriculture.” said Jason Crisp, Lisi Global’s CEO/CTO, “Agriculture has been our goal from the beginning. Although our initial market focus has been golf and sports turf with our Direct|Turf product, the plan has always been to take what we learn on the golf green and apply it to agriculture. This is precisely the opportunity we need to prove the capabilities of our unique technology.” Crisp continued, “That these distinguished researchers recognize its true potential is validation that our technology can impact how growers manage their crops while displacing some of the most harmful chemicals.”
According to OSU professor Dr. Marcelo Moretti, PhD, the grant’s Principal Investigator, “Lisi Global’s technology has demonstrated efficacy since its early greenhouse trials and the impressive results produced in the very early stages of their turf pest control efforts makes it worthy of evaluating on a larger scale. We’re grateful to the USDA/NIFA for the opportunity to look closely at DE Technology as an alternative to fumigation”
From the EPA’s National Pesticide Information Center: “Methyl Bromide (MB) is a is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable gas used as a fumigant against a wide variety of pests including spiders, mites, fungi, plants, insects, nematodes, and rodents. Introduced as a pesticide in 1932, MB was first registered in the United States in 1961. Farmers used MB primarily to treat soil to kill nematodes, fungi, and weeds before planting. Pesticide applicators also use MB to treat perishable commodities and buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) long classified MB as a “Restricted Use Pesticide" (RUP), i.e., a pesticide that may be purchased and used only by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision due to the acute toxicity of MB. MB use is widely restricted because of its ability to destroy the ozone layer.”
The phase-out of Methyl Bromide as an agricultural fumigant, which began in the early 2000’s, has left countless growers in hundreds of ag sectors with no alternatives, and infestations and crop losses are increasing as a result. For decades, researchers around the world have been looking for effective alternatives to methyl bromide and similar fumigants with little success. Lisi Global’s Directed Energy Technology is the first of its kind in agriculture, using tailored doses of electricity applied directly to the soil to effectively control soil borne organisms like nematodes and fungal pathogens with results comparable to fumigants. Peer-reviewed results can be found here: https://www.lisiglobal.com/published-results.html
Lisi Global has been developing ground-breaking applications in the electrification of soil pest control for nearly 10 years and remains the only technology in this very important market space. DE Technology will be available as Direct|Turf, an electronic soil amendment for golf and sports turf beginning in the Spring of 2023 in select regions of the US.
For more information on research collaborations or distribution partnerships please contact Conan Doherty, conan@lisiglobal.com
Lisi Global, Inc.
USDA/NIFA grant awarded to evaluate Lisi Global’s directed energy technology as a replacement for methyl bromide fumigation.
Richland, WA: LISI GLOBAL, Inc., today announced its participation in the latest US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant focused on methyl bromide replacement. In partnership with researchers from Oregon State University and the USDA Agriculture Research Service at OSU, Lisi Global will adapt its breakthrough Directed Energy technology to explore alternative approaches to soil fumigation using electric pulses applied to the soil to control target organisms, and continuous electrical current to heat the soil as a means of disinfection. The two-year study also includes economic analysis to determine how cost-effective these pest management tools will be.
“This is an important opportunity to expand DE Technology into agriculture.” said Jason Crisp, Lisi Global’s CEO/CTO, “Agriculture has been our goal from the beginning. Although our initial market focus has been golf and sports turf with our Direct|Turf product, the plan has always been to take what we learn on the golf green and apply it to agriculture. This is precisely the opportunity we need to prove the capabilities of our unique technology.” Crisp continued, “That these distinguished researchers recognize its true potential is validation that our technology can impact how growers manage their crops while displacing some of the most harmful chemicals.”
According to OSU professor Dr. Marcelo Moretti, PhD, the grant’s Principal Investigator, “Lisi Global’s technology has demonstrated efficacy since its early greenhouse trials and the impressive results produced in the very early stages of their turf pest control efforts makes it worthy of evaluating on a larger scale. We’re grateful to the USDA/NIFA for the opportunity to look closely at DE Technology as an alternative to fumigation”
From the EPA’s National Pesticide Information Center: “Methyl Bromide (MB) is a is a colorless, odorless, non-flammable gas used as a fumigant against a wide variety of pests including spiders, mites, fungi, plants, insects, nematodes, and rodents. Introduced as a pesticide in 1932, MB was first registered in the United States in 1961. Farmers used MB primarily to treat soil to kill nematodes, fungi, and weeds before planting. Pesticide applicators also use MB to treat perishable commodities and buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) long classified MB as a “Restricted Use Pesticide" (RUP), i.e., a pesticide that may be purchased and used only by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision due to the acute toxicity of MB. MB use is widely restricted because of its ability to destroy the ozone layer.”
The phase-out of Methyl Bromide as an agricultural fumigant, which began in the early 2000’s, has left countless growers in hundreds of ag sectors with no alternatives, and infestations and crop losses are increasing as a result. For decades, researchers around the world have been looking for effective alternatives to methyl bromide and similar fumigants with little success. Lisi Global’s Directed Energy Technology is the first of its kind in agriculture, using tailored doses of electricity applied directly to the soil to effectively control soil borne organisms like nematodes and fungal pathogens with results comparable to fumigants. Peer-reviewed results can be found here: https://www.lisiglobal.com/published-results.html
Lisi Global has been developing ground-breaking applications in the electrification of soil pest control for nearly 10 years and remains the only technology in this very important market space. DE Technology will be available as Direct|Turf, an electronic soil amendment for golf and sports turf beginning in the Spring of 2023 in select regions of the US.
For more information on research collaborations or distribution partnerships please contact Conan Doherty, conan@lisiglobal.com
The video shows how Direct|Turf™ is applied: The delivery apparatus and DES (that white box) is pulled across the treatment area by a tractor or utility cart. High efficiency batteries supply the source energy for the DES and are recharged, in part, by solar energy. Knife electrodes, specially designed to minimize surface disruption, slice the turf as the apparatus moves. The energy profile generated by the DES is applied to the spaced electrodes when they're fully inserted. The concentrated energy impacts the target organisms that reside in the soil and roots between the electrodes. The energy is constrained between the electrodes and will not dissipate or radiate from the treatment area. The area can be rolled or mowed immediately following the treatment. Play can typically resume right away. The Direct|Turf™ apparatus has a swath of 48" and is pulled at roughly 2mph. On average, a 7500sqft green can be treated in less than an hour. The batteries are capable of approximately 4 hours of treatment time, enough to cover 5 to 6 greens.
Deployment
To ensure the safe and proper use of the technology, Lisi Global has developed a service delivery model for market deployment in golf and sports turf. Similar to fumigation services, the company or its channel partners will provide the equipment and personnel to apply the treatment. As the existing large-scale application concepts are developed, the treatment will be delivered in less time than fumigation (when re-entry delay is included) at a comparable cost.
Development of the Technology
Near-term development focuses on refining energy profiles to target a wide variety of pests in turf. Along with targeted energy profiles, efficient application methods are also being developed to suit the unique characteristics of modern sports pitches so the technology can be applied in harmony with the many integrated systems that support healthy, durable playing surfaces. Long-term development goals focus on agriculture, specifically food crops. Whether in greenhouses or in the field, DE Technology can be effective at any stage of production when the target organisms are most accessible. From turf to agriculture, deploying this important solution where it will do the most good will be always be a top priority.
To ensure the safe and proper use of the technology, Lisi Global has developed a service delivery model for market deployment in golf and sports turf. Similar to fumigation services, the company or its channel partners will provide the equipment and personnel to apply the treatment. As the existing large-scale application concepts are developed, the treatment will be delivered in less time than fumigation (when re-entry delay is included) at a comparable cost.
Development of the Technology
Near-term development focuses on refining energy profiles to target a wide variety of pests in turf. Along with targeted energy profiles, efficient application methods are also being developed to suit the unique characteristics of modern sports pitches so the technology can be applied in harmony with the many integrated systems that support healthy, durable playing surfaces. Long-term development goals focus on agriculture, specifically food crops. Whether in greenhouses or in the field, DE Technology can be effective at any stage of production when the target organisms are most accessible. From turf to agriculture, deploying this important solution where it will do the most good will be always be a top priority.