China Selects Sentricon as Termite Control Alternative

The World Bank and the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) of China recently selected the Sentricon System to help modernize the protection of property in the nation.

INDIANAPOLIS — The World Bank and the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) of China recently selected the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System to help modernize the protection of property in the nation. The selection makes China the first nation to take such action under a World Bank project that helps nations investigate and utilize alternatives to termiticides and other pesticides.

The project, “Demonstration of Alternatives to Chlordane and Mirex in Termite Control,” will help China phase out the annual use of more than 33,000 pounds of chlordane and mirex, as well as adopt state-of-the-art termite control methods based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

“Subterranean termites are such a significant problem in China that termite control treatments are required on all new construction,” says Rocky Poon, marketing specialist, new business, greater China, for Dow AgroSciences. “To upgrade building protection, the World Bank and SEPA began a search in 2003 for more environmentally responsible alternatives.”

The search was conducted in accordance with the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment. One of the goals of the Stockholm Convention is to reduce or eliminate the release of persistent organics pollutants (POPs) such as chlordane.

Under the program, researchers and termite experts from the United States were invited to work with SEPA to demonstrate environmentally responsible pest control, specifically as related to IPM and termite baiting. Dow AgroSciences submitted the Sentricon System as an alternative product to be considered.

In 2006, the National Termite Control Center initiated termite baiting trials using the Sentricon System and a competitive baiting product. Stations were installed and monitored for performance. Dow AgroSciences submitted a bid for the project work in February 2008 and was informed in March that the Sentricon System was selected for the first phase of the project. Reasons cited for the selection of the Sentricon System were its easy installation and maintenance, as well as the training provided by Dow AgroSciences.

“We often heard from those testing the different baiting systems that the Sentricon stations were faster to install and the Recruit termite bait was easier to use,” says Phil Howard, global product success leader, Urban Pest Management for Dow AgroSciences. “The termite bait in the Sentricon System also meets the requirements of this project in that it demonstrates a low toxicity to birds, fish and plants, as well as low potential for groundwater contamination.”

Since the World Bank and SEPA’s decision to utilize the Sentricon System, Dow AgroSciences has been conducting extensive technical and classroom training to prepare for the first phase of the project, which will begin in August 2008 when 100,000 Sentricon stations are installed and monitored at more than 400 sites.

“Dow AgroSciences is honored to be a part of this historical undertaking by the World Bank and SEPA,” says Dave Morris, commercial leader, U.S. Urban Pest Management for Dow AgroSciences. “China is making significant inroads toward improving its environment. The environmentally responsible attributes of the Sentricon System are perfect complements to helping China reach this attainable goal.” The Sentricon System uses just grams of termite bait, when and where needed, versus hundreds of gallons of chemical solution used in liquid chemical treatments.

Dow AgroSciences will soon begin the process of submitting a bid for the second phase of the project, which will begin in fall 2008. About Dow AgroSciences

For more information about Sentricon visit www.dowagro.com.