Paraquat Hearing Wellington, New Zealand Classification: PUBLIC - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Wellington, New Zealand 11-12 September 2019

Paraquat Hearing

Classification: PUBLIC

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Paraquat is an import tool for weed management

• Plays a critical role in environmentally sustainable farming practices around the world
• Use in conservation tillage to safeguard soil fertility - eradicates weeds without having to

disturb the soil and disrupt the weed’s roots via tillage which can:

• reduce soil erosion by up to 90 per cent,
• significantly improve water retention and
• increase/maintain carbon storage
• Once sprayed, paraquat kills the weeds and then becomes inactive in the soil – this allows

rapid turnaround and planting of another crop.

• Reduces manual labour requirements – productivity and profitability can be increased
• Important rotational tool for farmers in the fight against glyphosate resistant weeds
• Value to New Zealand economy between $39 million and $75 million of annual GDP

Classification: PUBLIC

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Syngenta supports the safe and sustainable use of paraquat

• Syngenta has actively participated in the reassessment of paraquat
• Data Call-in
• Paraquat use information
• 89 ecotoxicology studies
• 149 environmental chemistry and fate studies
• 168 toxicology studies
• Public submissions
• Higher tier risk assessments for operator exposure and

avian exposure plus supporting studies

• Public Hearing

Classification: PUBLIC

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EPA Reassessment

• Syngenta agrees with the EPA control recommendations:
• Impurity specifications and requirements for emetic and stenching agent
• A maximum use rate of 600 g paraquat ion / ha
• Proposed downwind buffer zones
• Spray droplet specification for ground application and aerial application
• Provision of responsible handling information
• Limitations related to wind speeds and for transferring product into food,

drink or unlabelled containers

Classification: PUBLIC

Andy Cook, September 2019

Closed Loop Knapsack Sprayer System

Classification: PUBLIC

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CLKS is a fully automated dosing system for knapsack sprayers

Classification: PUBLIC

Fill the knapsack with water, plug and go…

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Designed to bring growers multiple benefits

Classification: PUBLIC

Clean knapsack Knapsack only contains water*; no need to replace knapsack Recharge on the go Add on the sprayer system; just plug in the cartridge and go Safe chemical handling Empty cartridge can be rinsed thoroughly to allow safe disposal The perfect dose Right for the farmer, right for the environment Convenience Each cartridge allow for partial use and lasts up to 6 knapsack refills of water Leak-free handle Ergonomic, safe, and retrofit-able

*The design does not prevent users to add other liquids into their knapsacks

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CLKS fills the technology gap of closed-systems for knapsack users – many are smallholders

Classification: PUBLIC

For large pump spray tank or tractor mounted sprayer users: Closed Transfer System (CTS) and Direct Injection System (DIS) For knapsack users: CLKS By Syngenta with IP filing Already in the market; multiple vendors

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Key benefits – user and others

OPERATORS

• No requirement for manual mixing / loading
• Elimination of potential contact with the product concentrate (no skin or eye splashes / exposure)
• No mixing / loading exposure component (as assumed in OHS models)
• Elimination of possible dosing errors (too high or too low a spray solution concentration)
• Saves time
• No requirement for manual rinsing (triple rinse) in order to be regarded as ‘non-hazardous’ waste

(rinsing is built-in to the system)

• Water only in backpack / knapsack, in event of poorly maintained backpack developing a leak then only

consequence for operator is getting wet (with water)

• Enables growers to also upgrade application accuracy with a new lance unit with nozzles matched to

chemistry (correct droplet size and coverage), right dose rate.

OTHERS

• No possibility of decanting of the product concentrate to inappropriate storage containers (no possibility
• f ‘confusion’ with beverages following removal from original sales container)
• Elimination of accidental drinking accidents
• Elimination of ‘impulsive’ acts of self-harm
• Applicable beyond Paraquat use. Potentially for all future knapsack use to better support reduced
• perator exposure

Classification: PUBLIC

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Key points

• Can retrofit to existing backpack / knapsack sprayers
• New lance unit only
• Developed by Syngenta with external specialist engineering design company (Sagentia)
• Patent filing (to avoid possible blocking patents for a safety enhancement and ensure system

specification meets standards required to deliver all benefits)

• Syngenta intend to make available for all paraquat registrants on cost neutral basis
• Sets a new and higher safety standard for other countries to follow
• Complements Worksafe proposal for future ‘closed transfer system’ approach for mixing / loading with

tractor based systems

Classification: PUBLIC