Investigation Into Fungicide Grape Damage Launched
Date£º
2015-09-09 15:34 Source£º
thedrinksbusiness Author:
Neal Baker Translator:
Pharmaceutical giant Bayer has warned grape growers against using its popular fungicide brand Moon Privilege after reports that it has severely damaged crops.
Botrytis-affected Riesling grapes
Claims that the product ¨C also known as Lunar Privilege in some markets ¨C caused ¡°atypical symptoms¡± in vines have been reported across Europe in five countries, a statement on the company¡¯s website said.
Bayer¡¯s CropScience arm has now launched an investigation, and has been contacting winemakers and grape growers to tell them to refrain from using the product ¡°as a precaution¡±.
Bayer said that external experts have also been drafted in to assess the claims.
Along with the CropScience team they have so-far revealed that the fungicide is ¡°possibly the cause of the abnormal growth¡±, according to the statement, published in German, French and Italian.
¡°Bayer CropScience intents to clarify the facts in time for the next growing season¡±, it claimed.
Some Swiss wine grape growers claim that the fungicide is responsible for causing the loss of up to 10% of this year¡¯s harvest and are calling for compensation, Schweiz am Sonntag newspaper reported on Sunday (6 September).
¡°The damage will, in any event, be in the three-digit millions (of Swiss francs),¡± Andreas Meier, a winegrower in northern Switzerland, was quoted in the newspaper as saying.
Bayer CropScience has been contacted by db for comment.