Post-harvest losses in grains reach annually 10 % in developed countries, while they exceed 30 % in developing countries, a percentage that is directly linked with food availability and hunger in the world. The most important causal for losses at the post-harvest stages of agricultural commodities is insects, that, apart from the direct infestation, can enhance the production and growth of pathogens to the product, mainly fungi and bacteria that may produce toxins. The occurrence of insects and pathogens to the final product may seriously endanger human health. Control of stored product insects is heavily relied on the use of conventional contact insecticides, many of which are applied directly to the product, or aerial insecticides, that are applied as fumigants. Nevertheless, the continuous use of these insecticides has led to the development of resistance by many major insect species, a phenomenon that has taken currently global dimensions. Moreover, some of these active ingredients are particularly toxic for mammals, while their application has negative environmental impact. The gradual withdrawal of all the above has created a considerable gap in stored product protection, especially in products like wheat, barley, maize and rice, which have a fundamental importance for human nutrition. In this regard, it is essential to evaluate safe alternative methods for the control of both insects and microbial load in stored product protection. One viable alternative of major importance is the use of diatomaceous earth. This substance is a mineral that is formed by the fossils of diatoms (phytoplankton) and consists mainly by silicon dioxide (SiO2), which kills insects through desiccation as a “natural silicon”. At the same time, diatomaceous earth is very effective against fungi as well, and many research groups classify this substance as a “mycotoxin binder”. The use of diatomaceous earth in the industry is extremely wide, and its application has been proved safe, that made the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to give the classification GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). Currently, diatomaceous earth is used as an additive to feed and also processed food for human consumption. In this context, the aim of DiatomiteThem is the implementation and exploitation of diatomaceous earths for stored product protection, in the commodities and the facilities of the company THESgi Farmers’ Cooperative of Thessaly. Apart from the evaluation of diatomaceous earth against insects and fungal pathogens, we will provide an integrated techno-economic strategic plan for the use of this technique over the application of conventional methods in stored product protection, i.e. traditionally-used insecticides. As a first stage, we will evaluate the insecticidal and fungicidal value of diatomaceous earths under laboratory conditions, for the optimization of the factors that affect efficacy, and then, we will apply the substances in selected scenarios at the facilities and commodities of THESgi. In parallel, we will study the influence of diatomaceous earths in physical and chemical characteristics of grains. Finally, we will study and analyze the cost of such an application, the comparative adaptability to specific commodities and facilities, and its prospects for the market, providing, for the first time, an integrated strategic plan of a diatomaceous earth-based non-chemical control in stored grain protection.
For more information regarding this research project, please follow the link: https://diatomitethem.thesgi.eu/
Co‐financed by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code:Τ2EDK-3532).