Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
backs. As early as 1961, United Fruit researchers declared that there was a
''great need'' to find a substitute for Dieldrin on account of root borer re-
sistance to the insecticide.
87
In 1965, the company stopped using Dieldrin
in favorof Kepone (anotherorganochlorinated compound) following the
latter's clearance for use on bananas by United States' regulatory agen-
cies. Two years later, United Fruit received an extension on its Kepone
clearancebecausetheinsecticidewas''importantinthebananaborercon-
trolprogram.''
88
However,by1970,growingconcernsaboutthelong-term
environmental effects of organochlorinated pesticides prompted the U.S.
government to consider a ban on Kepone. United Fruit and Kepone's
manufacturer, the Allied Chemical Corporation, subsequently entered
into negotiations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over use of
the insecticide on bananas. That same year, United Fruit scientists began
testing the ability of other insecticides, including an organophosphate
(Dursban) and a systemic carbamate (Furadan), to control root-borers
in banana plantations.
89
Then, in 1973, United Fruit's Golfito division in
Costa Rica discontinued all insecticide use in favor of biological controls.
Within two years, populations of root borers and other insects fell to ac-
ceptable levels. By the late 1970s, all of the company's Central American
operations had drastically lowered their use of insecticides to control root
borers.
90
Root borers were not the only organisms capable of weakening ba-
nana root systems. In fact, early studies of the effects of root borers on
banana production may have overlooked the extent to which parasitic
nematodes (Radopholus similis) also contributed to lowering yields. As
earlyas 1957, United Fruit scientists reported that populations ofR.similis
were causing ''considerable damage'' to banana plants in Panama.
91
That
same year, the Shell Oil Company began marketing a nematicide called
Nemagon (dibromochloropropane or DBCP) that the company claimed
would boost yields of ''exportable bananas.''
92
In 1958, United Fruit re-
searchers noted that early reports on DBCP's effectiveness were favorable,
but recommended controlling R. similis populations via fallowing and
planting nematode-free rhizomes. Two years later, research department
experiments confirmed earlier findings that nematicide treatments could
increasetheamountof ''marketable''fruitdefinedatthetimeasan''eight-
handed, American grade stem'' that weighed more than 70 pounds.
93
In
1961,theU.S.FoodandDrugAdministrationapprovedatemporaryclear-
ance for the use of DBCP in banana ''seed'' beds. United Fruit scientists
subsequently recommended using DBCP in company nurseries, but they
refrained from endorsing its use on a large scale pending further trials.
