02/15/07 Mustard, canola, part two

Matt Morra has been doing a lot of research into mustards and canola as natural pesticides. The University of Idaho biochemist is at the point where he's hired a Boise consultant to help him get a product on the market that could benefit farmers. MORRA "We have quite a bit of field data so we've taken it from the very fundamental chemistry side of things to where we think we're about ready. I wouldn't say we have a product that's ready for commercialization." But Morra has two hoops to jump through and neither comes without a hefty price tag. MORRA "One is to get registered with the EPA which is going to take 18 months at a bare minimum. And the second thing is to make sure we have all of the label recommendations just like you do with a synthetic pesticide." Morra thinks the best potential for his product is in the organic food arena. MORRA "That's where I see the value of these things right now. You're not going to use it on wheat, or peas or lentils or something like that. There's not enough money there." Morra believes adding value to mustard and canola meal could dramatically transform Idaho`s oilseed industry. He and other researchers believe with a ban looming on the synthetic soil fumigant methyl bromide, mustard meal could fill the gap and become the most valuable commodity from the crop. With that shift, the seed oil would become an inexpensive byproduct, but a valuable asset in producing biodiesel. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott