June 1999 News Press release translated by William Godnick CSN Home | Environment

RAPAL awards pesticide alternatives

The Latin American Action Network for Alternative Pesticides (RAPAL) celebrated its First Competition for Innovation in Environmentally Friendly Agricultural Technologies with the objective of stimulating creative research in the areas of environmental pest management and environmental soil management. RAPAL promotes the development of alternatives to agrochemical use throughout Latin America. The main areas of competition were the control of botanical insects, bio-fertilization, integral fertilization, green fertilizers as well as the environmental impact of agrochemical use.

Twenty-three researchers participated from all over Latin America. Project entries were sent to the RAPAL coordinator in Lima, Peru for review.

The results of the competition were announced at the Eight Annual RAPAL Assembly held in Santiago, Chile on May 29 and 30, 1999. Three Cuban scientists took home the awards. Below are the award recipients and their research in order of merit:

• First Prize: Dr. Nilda Perez Conseugra for her research on the biological control of onion cultivation took home US$1,500.
• Second Prize: Alfonso Leon Valido for his research on the environmental analysis of insect and larva densities and alternatives to intensive insecticide use in tomato and corn cultivation took home US$ 500.
• Third Prize: Maria Elena Estrada Martinez, Maritza Romero and Maria Julia Rivero took home $500 for their research on the biological control of Diatraea saccharalis.

The competition entries were judged by experts who based their decisions on the potential benefits of these projects for reducing the use of dangerous agro-chemicals and their effects on the environment while still producing positive results for crops. For more information send e-mail messages to: Rapalpe@mail.cosapidata.com.pe.

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