Sponsored by the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) and Council of Agriculture, 11 RBPR training workshops have been held since 1994 in Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, etc. (FFTC, 1994 & 2009). Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center also sent the trainees from Vietnam, Lao and Cambodia to TARI to learn for RBPR techniques.
A similar program in Korea was initiated by Dr. Chan-Hoi Choi, who introduced RBPR to the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) in 1996. After continuously testing, NACF sponsored more than 200 local farmer associates to establish RBPR stations within two years and are responsible for the follow-up training programs. The largest wholesale market in Seoul, Garak Wholesale Market, implements RBPR technology since 1998 and has combined RBPR with chemical analysis to execute a residue control program that is efficient enough to protect the consumers. Korea Food and Drug Administration has been using RBPR as rapid screening tool since 1998. Hyundai and Shinsegae Department Stores, Samsung Everland and other supermarket chains also apply RBPR to safeguard the quality of fruits and vegetables they supply.
Another example is in Vietnam. The Sub-Institute of Agriculture Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology in the Ho Chi Min City has adopted RBPR in 1997 and conducted residues survey programs since then. By applying RBPR technology, Mr. Tran Van An and his colleagues won the National Safety Prize in 2003 for their dedication in solving pesticide residue problems.
After the lectures on RBPR technology given by Dr. Edward Y. Cheng in mainland China in 1998, similar rapid bioassay method has been developed by several institutions. The national standard method was announced in August 2003 by the Department of Agriculture of People of Republic China, and has established a detection network.
In 2004, Mr. Miguel Zheng of the Taiwan Mission of ICDF (International Cooperation and Development Fund) presented the RBPR technology to the government of Panama, and started to conduct a three-year cooperative project between Panama and Taiwan government. The counterparts of this project include Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Panama Municipal and Panama Agricultural Research Institute and have established national residues monitoring system and 3 bioassay laboratories including one pilot laboratory in Central Agricultural Market in Panama City. The pilot laboratory executes the annual investigation to evaluate the level of pesticide contamination and illustrate the high risk production areas. Collaboration with dealers and producers as well as communication with the consumers has been ongoing. RBPR technology is well accepted by major dealers in central market and supermarket chain stores such as RS, REY, SUPER 99, Machetazo, etc. In October 2008, a WTO committee praised the Taiwan ICDF for the RBPR work in Panama that targeting specific areas to be improved on a relatively small budget.
All of these indicate that people appreciate the real action rather than the annual report on residue survey. Due to the availability and easiness, RBPR can immediately stop the residue to poison people, and is a no boundary program that can be used in any region. The cost to implement RBPR is low, while the achievement has already been proven to be significant. The general public appreciates RBPR technology even though it is unable to detect all the pesticides.
The consumer parties showed their understanding and patience as more research is needed for some pesticides that still can not be detected by current method. It has formed a unique working network on pesticide residue prevention.
We believe that through the application of this technology, pesticide residue working groups will win the heart of the consumer who usually supervises the residue control agencies of government closely. We would like to share these concepts and experiences with the people who have been troubled by the residual problems. In the future, we may work together to ensure safer agricultural products and better tomorrow.
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