The SAOAS - ALFACHIMIE group is launching a complete range for post-harvest citrus treatments.
The group SAOAS - ALFACHIMIE organized, in collaboration with their partners AAKO and VIVAGRO, a technical day for the benefit of the citrus conditioners, on September 13th, 2012 in Agadir. The purpose of this event was to present the range of products used in post-harvest processing of citrus fruits as well as a new product, newly approved and specially formulated for this segment of treatment.
This seminar was also an opportunity to take stock of the integrated management of the main citrus post-harvest diseases. This theme presented by Pr. Achouri, from IAV - CHA, was extensively analyzed and discussed with the audience, which represents most of the citrus packaging stations in Morocco. This integrated management approach emphasizes that post-harvest processing is a chain that starts with good harvesting practices in the orchard and ends when the commodity is received by the consumer. In this process, the 'fungal treatment' component is important because of the quality of the approved products used and their complementarities in different treatment positions.
The intervention of Bussines Support Manager of the Dutch company AAKO, Mr Benoît De Schepper, presented the two classic products of SAOAS-ALFACHIMIE for this kind of treatment; namely Tresor 500 EC based on Imazalil and Kenopel 20 based on Guazatine. Dr. de Schepper pointed out that the Imazalil molecule, active ingredient of Tresor 500 EC, is considered as a reference molecule during the re-evaluation made by the US. Also, he presented, to the particularly attentive audience, the current status of the molecule of Guazatine. Indeed, this active ingredient can still be used on citrus fruit destined for the EU market and its MRL will be studied and published in the second half of 2013. While for the markets of Russia and USA, the MRL remains fixed at 5 mg / kg. This is clearly shown that Guazatine, reputedly highly effective against Geotrichum citri-auranti, will remain in effect at least for the 2012-2013 season.
During his speech, Mr. Fabrice, presented a new product based on orange trees called GEO-X. This new formulation of natural origin is recently approved by ONSSA to fight doubly against Geotrichum citri-auranti and Penicilium digitatum. The GEO-X resulted from a deep scientific study conducted by Prof. Achouri and his research team at IAV-CHA, in collaboration with the SAOAS-ALFACHIMIE group to highlight the technical applications of this new product in laboratory conditions and in vivo conditions in a packaging station on a merchandise intended for export. The results, presented by Mr. Fabrice have demonstrated the great effectiveness of this product regarding the rots studied. Added to this is the absence of the possibility of appearance of resistance, given its physical mode of action, as well as the absence of the MRL given the natural origin of the product that does not generate residues.
The discussion with professionals from both the citrus sector and the packaging sector made it possible to underline the importance of this kind of thematic raised by the start of a citrus growing campaign that seems to be special. Also, the speakers welcomed the efforts made by SAOAS-ALFACHIMIE group in order to propose quality products and to encourage scientific research to find new and adequate technical solutions for a better protection of exported Moroccan fruits and vegetables in order to better support the Morocco label.
