Lisi Global taking part in fumigant replacement research

Lisi Global Inc. is taking part 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 Agricultural Research Service at OSU, Lisi Global will adapt its Directed Energy technology to explore alternative approaches to soil fumigation using electric pulses applied to the soil to control target organisms, as well as 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.

According to OSU professor Dr. Marcelo Moretti, the grant’s Principal Investigator, “Lisi Global’s technology demonstrated efficacy in early greenhouse trials, and the impressive results produced in the early stages of their turf pest control efforts make it worthy of evaluating on a larger scale. We are grateful to the USDA/NIFA for the opportunity to look closely at DE Technology as an alternative to fumigation.”

The phase-out of methyl bromide as an agricultural fumigant began two decades ago, with no alternatives to take its place. As infestations and crop losses increased, researchers looked for alternatives, with little success. Lisi Global’s Directed Energy technology applies tailored doses of electricity directly to the soil to control soil-borne organisms such as nematodes and fungal pathogens.

The technology has been targeted at turf grass such as that found on golf courses. By decreasing manufactures’ production rates, transportation needs, and tractor runtime, helping create healthier plants which take in more carbon dioxide, and using batteries as a primary energy course, DE technology is nearly carbon neutral, according to Lisi Global’s website.

Peer-reviewed results can be found at https://www.lisiglobal.com/published-results.html

“This is an important opportunity to expand DE technology into agriculture,” Lisi Global CEO Jason Crisp said. “Agriculture has been our goal from the beginning. Although our initial market focus has been golf and sports turf with Direct|Turf, the plan has always been to take what we learn on the golf green and apply it to agriculture.

“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.”