The Pros and Cons of Using Irradiation for Phytosanitary Treatments

Electron beam processing as a phytosanitary treatment of imported fruits

“…Compared to other quarantine treatments, irradiation can be completed relatively quickly, in some cases in minutes, compared to hours or days for other methods (Hallman and Martinez, 2001). Irradiation also allows the treatment of fruits already packaged for sale, even if products are in single-serve or clamshell-type boxes (Cannon et al ., 2012;Hallman, 2011;Hallman and Martinez, 2001). Additionally, unlike treatment using methyl bromide and other chemicals, irradiation has no associated fumigant or pesticide residues and is much less damaging to the environment (Hallman, 2011(Hallman, , 2004Hallman and Martinez, 2001).…”

“…Despite these expenses, studies have shown that phytosanitary irradiation facilities can be profi table (Bustos-Griffi n, 2012). Additionally, these costs are tied to use and may fall considerably as the technology becomes more utilized and existing facilities reach maximum capacity (Cannon et al ., 2012;Hallman, 2011). Even when irradiation facilities are optimally situated in agricultural production areas, the logistics and cost of transporting products to a central facility for treatment can be a challenge (Cannon et al ., 2012;Hallman and Martinez, 2001).…”

“…Additionally, these costs are tied to use and may fall considerably as the technology becomes more utilized and existing facilities reach maximum capacity (Cannon et al ., 2012;Hallman, 2011). Even when irradiation facilities are optimally situated in agricultural production areas, the logistics and cost of transporting products to a central facility for treatment can be a challenge (Cannon et al ., 2012;Hallman and Martinez, 2001). Irradiation is also not approved for the treatment of organic crops, which limits the number of products that it can be applied to (Hallman, 2011).…”

“…Therefore, border inspectors may be confronted with the presence of live pests in boxes that have, in fact, been treated properly and are perfectly safe for importation (Hallman, 2011). This is an issue because, for all other quarantine treatment methods, the presence of live pests indicates that treatment either was not performed or was performed insuffi ciently and will result in the shipment being rejected or destroyed (Hallman, 2011;Cannon et al ., 2012). Several authors and experts in the fi eld have listed this lack of acute insect mortality as one of the primary challenges facing the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment (Cannon et al ., 2012;Hallman et al ., 2010;Torres-Rivera and Hallman, 2007).…”

“…This is an issue because, for all other quarantine treatment methods, the presence of live pests indicates that treatment either was not performed or was performed insuffi ciently and will result in the shipment being rejected or destroyed (Hallman, 2011;Cannon et al ., 2012). Several authors and experts in the fi eld have listed this lack of acute insect mortality as one of the primary challenges facing the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment (Cannon et al ., 2012;Hallman et al ., 2010;Torres-Rivera and Hallman, 2007). This issue is certainly not insurmountable, especially considering irradiation's many other benefi ts, but it puts irradiation at a disadvantage, because inspectors cannot visually confi rm the absence of pests and must instead rely on a certifi cate or other proof of treatment (Hallman, 2011).…”