A team of scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) has presented a technique that uses high-temperature steam to combat soil-borne pests and diseases, with the potential to increase organic strawberry production and reduce reliance on environmentally harmful chemical fumigants.

The technology involves injecting steam into planting beds before cultivation begins, in order to eliminate bacteria, fungi, and weeds that can hinder plant growth, cause crop failure, or reduce farm productivity. As part of the project, the research team has engaged four organic strawberry producers who are testing the method using specialised equipment. One participant, Rod Koda, a strawberry farmer with several years of experience, reported positive outcomes, including an increase in fruit yields.

The technique is being developed as an alternative to the chemical fumigants currently used to treat soil and control organisms harmful to crops. These products can pose risks to the environment, to wildlife, and to farmers themselves, while also creating compliance barriers for producers seeking to maintain organic certification.

According to the website Ciclo Vivo, the absence of effective alternatives has forced some organic producers to either accept the risk of losing harvests to soil-borne diseases or to shift to hydroponic production systems. In this context, steam treatment could help reduce losses and make organic strawberry cultivation more economically viable.

Jenny Broome, a UCSC researcher involved in the project, said the initiative seeks to refine a technology that has been in use for decades by developing more efficient methods of applying it in agricultural settings. The goal is to harness the heat generated by steam to control harmful organisms without depending on conventional chemical fumigants.

California is one of the United States’ principal strawberry-producing regions, with approximately 35,000 acres dedicated to the crop. The proximity of the fruit to the soil and its inherent fragility make strawberry plants particularly susceptible to pests and diseases, factors that can significantly undermine productivity.

Although the initial results reported by participating producers are encouraging, the technique remains under evaluation. Its effectiveness, implementation costs, and applicability across varying agricultural conditions will be critical in determining whether steam treatment can become a scalable and viable alternative for expanding organic strawberry production.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=556083