Ozone As Pesticide

Makarand writes "Purdue University researchers in the search for alternatives to insect fumigants that damage Earth's ozone layer have found that ozone gas can be used as a potent pesticide without causing any environmental harm. Farmers could use ozone generators to get rid of insects in their grain bins by releasing ozone in them."

Comments

Re:Ozone layer must be removed...

[Transient0]

"The school may file patent protections on its process.

A $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Research Initiative financed the Purdue team's latest wave of research."

I don't mean to be one of those people who freaks out at the mere mention of a patent, but something rubs me the wrong way about research at an educational institution which was funded by a government grant being patentable. Shouldn't it be public domain?

Mountain toxic, river poison

[Sunnan]

Is producing more poison, esp that damage the nerve system like this, a good thing?

I don't know.

I'd rather see a decline in the monocultures that are vulnerable to insect attacks. Growing for example hemp alongside your other crops helps against pests and is a lot less harmful to the environment.

Growing a single crop is almost begging for trouble, and using pesticides is not going to the root of the problem. The insects will evolve.