Development of Safer, Effective Fungicide Formulations

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Currently growers are using toxic and at times injurious chemicals on millions of acres of agricultural crop that require multiple fungicide treatments to control disease. Many if not most of the existing products have high chronic toxicity, are suspected human carcinogens and/or teratogens and often times are toxic to birds, fish and beneficial insects. It is likely that some of the products will not be re-registered under the Food Quality Protection Act, thereby creating a demand for safer products to meet grower needs. Use of more environmentally friendly products by the growers would also lower consumer risk. The discovery of alternative chemicals that protect food safety would agree with some of the goals for sustainable agriculture and protect quality of life. This SBIR Phase II project will accelerate the development of novel, safe fungicides as treatments for disease control in potato and peanut. Summerdale, Inc. has shown that specific, synergistic combinations of organic acids have fungicidal properties against a wide range of pathogens. Phase I demonstrated that rates for effective use of the food-grade components as fungicides appear economically attractive and competitive with existing fungicides.