Organic Fumigation

October 2024 Edition:

By: Joshua A Wilhelm, ACE

The fumigation industry has always struggled with options for the organic industry.  Organics have gained a large market share, and this has pushed companies to explore organic products in their facilities.  With these opportunities come the associated struggles.  Organic products have very little options when it comes to insect and rodent control within facilities and commodities due to the inherent risk associated with pesticides.  Very few products are labeled for organic use and very few are effective on the stored product pests we are trying to protect the organic industry from.

The term Organic Fumigation is almost a contradiction in itself.  Finding a way to effectively control pests within organic product and facilities has been a long-time struggle for the industry.  While there is no easy solution, we do have some options such as CO2 fumigation.  While CO2 is not considered an organic gas, it does have its use in the organic fumigation industry.

Recently, an organic certified label has been released for CO2 that allows the fumigation industry to fumigate commodities and other products with an EPA approved organic label.  CO2 leaves no residue, is non-toxic, and when used appropriately is very effective for effective pest management.  This organic certified CO2 has opened new potential within the organic fumigation industry and provided solutions that were not feasible until very recently.

CO2 fumigation works by displacing the oxygen needed by insects or rodents to survive.  The molecule is heavier than air and the concentration target to control insects is 70-80 percent concentration.  These levels can be very difficult to obtain and hold throughout the fumigation process which limits the treatments that can be performed with this technique.  CO2 fumigation is very different than normal industry fumigation gasses that have a target concentration rate of less than a percent in most cases.  CO2 fumigation is generally done in an airtight container, vacuum chamber, or a tarpaulin treatment.  The ambient air is vacuumed out of the treatment area and CO2 is introduced to the environment.  This process limits the size and scope of treatment that can be performed with the gas currently but does provide a much-needed option on a smaller scale.  Many companies are exploring options to have a chamber on their property to help treat infested products before they enter their facility.

Organic fumigation is not currently utilized on a large scale, but it will find its continued uses in the industry.  With the organic label, it provides a new option the industry has been asking for.    With continued adoption and investment into the process, the overall costs will be manageable for this to be included in the pest management at many food facilities soon.  Options for third party fumigation chambers that the industry can utilize without the investment on their own are also being explored.  There is much more to come for the future of organic fumigation!