Area IPM Advisor Jim Stapleton was recognized with an IPM Achievement Award in IPM leadership from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for his work on soil fumigant alternatives and biosolarization. As described by DPR, the IPM Achievement Awards recognize organizations that use integrated pest management (IPM) to address the diverse pest management needs throughout California.
Stapleton is a member of a multi-institutional team that has been working on alternatives to agricultural soil fumigants since 2004. The team is improving the implementation and efficacy of biosolarization—that is solarization, the use of sun’s heat to manage soil pests and pathogens, with the incorporation of organic additives into the soil to improve efficacy. Biosolarization manages soil pests, and additionally can improve soil health and reduce landfill waste.