BioHerbicides Australia: Focus on chemical control + direct applicator technology
Date:10-16-2019
Once only known and used in agriculture and forestry, the herbicide Glyphosate has the eyes of the world on it in 2019 as science and court cases collide over best management practices and the potential health and environmental impact of the herbicides’ use.
Traditionally applied as a liquid spray and known in Australia and around the world commonly as ‘RoundUp’, Glyphosate is used in approximately 500 herbicide products to control noxious weeds that impede and impact good land management.
In 2016 globally recognised regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, conducted an international and industry-wide evaluation on Glyphosate and determined that the herbicide doesn’t pose a carcinogenic risk to humans. And more recently in March 2019, the US Environmental Protection Agency found that Glyphosate is not a carcinogen.
Nevertheless, legal cases the world over continue to present – and be found in favour of – plaintiffs who say exposure to the herbicide has caused or contributed to their cancer.
It’s a serious claim and one that can be addressed through innovation and new science, where traditional land management herbicides and practices can be used in new ways – with the help of BioHerbicides Australia (BHA).
BHA provides biological control methods for weeds but has also developed exciting innovations that allow traditional herbicides to be utilised in a much safer manner, for both the environment and the people reliant on them.
Managing Director of BHA Peter Riikonen said the basis of the company philosophy is to develop new methods to control tree weeds that are economical, environmentally safe and safe for operators.
“We have been progressing the APVMA registration of our bioherbicide products, but we recognised that there was also a need to find alternative applications of our technology that could be delivered by insertion of a pharmaceutical-grade capsule into a tree,” Peter said.
“We started to evaluate whether a capsule enclosing dry herbicide could control woody and noxious weeds, so we started experimenting with capsules containing Glyphosate and other herbicides, inserting them directly into the trunk of the tree – and the results were excellent,” he said.
When BHA first started working in bioherbicides, capsules were applied using a hand drill and sealing with a cork gun, but the company soon realised that to be attractive to operators, the application and sealing of capsules would have to be at least semi-automated.
Now, they have developed an applicator with a circular magazine that holds 30 capsules and plugs and is driven by a battery-operated hand drill.
Peter Riikonen said it’s a game-changer in application.
Peter in the field using applicator
“A hole is drilled into the trunk of the woody weed tree, the drill bit retracts, the capsule and plug are then inserted into hole sealing the capsule within the trunk,” he explained.
“Once that capsule is inserted, it’s the last time the chemical has any level of exposure whatsoever to the environment, delivering a precise small dose only to the target tree,” he said.
“This method dramatically reduces the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) and requires minimal training, making it significantly safe for the environment and the operator, eliminating all contact with the herbicide.”
It’s an alternative that has now been trialled at more than 500 sites all around Australia over the past 18 months – from local councils, to forestry managers, to state and federal government departments, to natural resource management groups and bushland volunteers to cattle producers.
“This new way forward is proving revolutionary for many sectors,” Peter Riikonen said.
“We are now keen to build on the positive outcomes here in Australia and work towards engaging with a global supplier of herbicide products to the woody weed market, so we can speed up the delivery of of safety benefits to broad, global market.”
The fact that there’s no residual herbicide going into the soil, air or general environment in sensitive areas is a huge benefit to our business and how we like to help others operate – Kurt Bowman, Director, Bowantz Bushfire & Environmental Pty Ltd, NSW.
Environmental consultancy Bowantz Bushfire & Environmental Pty Ltd lead multiple weed control and eradication projects throughout south-west New South Wales and have been working with Water NSW undertaking strategic weed control in priority catchment areas for nearly a decade.
Director Kurt Bowman said with most of the company’s work based in sensitive areas and water catchments, the opportunity to trial BHA’s herbicide tree injector applicator was a welcome collaboration.
“For a long time, the industry has had few options other than to rely on chain saws and ‘RoundUp’ to help control woody weeds,” Kurt said.
“However, when you’re working in water catchment areas this is obviously not an ideal way to tackle the issue,” he said.
“Further to that, a lot of the trees we deal with are vegetatively reproductive, which means when you fell a green tree and they fall to the ground they effectively just turn in to another 100 trees.
“The BHA applicator has really changed the way we’ve been able to target woody weed species and the method also provides peace of mind. There’s next to no exposure to the surrounding ecosystem, operators or local fauna.
“The potential operator and environmental impacts are totally minimised, and in some cases, removed totally.”
Kurt said his company is getting a great response to the herbicide capsules and the applicator when they introduce it to their broad range of clients.
“We’ve been providing trial services to private landholders, local councils, Local Land Services, Water NSW, Office of Environment & Heritage & ACT National Parks & Conservation Service and others who manage sensitive environments,” Kurt said.
“Having new technology that addresses so many industry concerns while still delivering scientifically sound results is a great bit of kit for us to be able to offer clients. It also means as a company we’re getting to experience some efficiency gains too because it’s not taking us as long to address particular woody weed infestations,” he said.
“It’s a lot less effort and a lot less cost, and it’s also something that doesn’t take long to feel confident in using.
“We’ve been hosting workshop demonstrations with community groups and volunteer organisations in our local area and people can’t believe how easy and safe the applicator is to use.
“It really is a win-win for land managers. And we’re also seeing a lot of interest from the forestry industry and mine rehabilitation sites to trial the BHA technology too. There are so many applications to explore.
“For an industry that doesn’t often get to benefit from much new innovation or technology, this is an exciting advancement in woody weed control that will have benefits not just in Australia but also globally.”
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