China's rejection of Australian mung beans prompts chemical rethink
China rejects 10 containers of Australian mung beans after testing found the shipment exceeded allowed chemical levels.
China has rejected a shipment of 10 containers of Australian mung beans due to exceeding glyphosate residue levels. About 95% of Australia's mung bean crop is traditionally dried using herbicides. In response, growers are exploring mechanical alternatives to reduce chemical use. The Chinese market is highly sensitive to such issues and has become more stringent in enforcement.
This has prompted some growers to investigate swathing, a mechanical process that dries crops before harvest. While swathing can speed up the drying process, it may not be feasible for all growers due to factors like terrain and equipment limitations. Despite the premium price for glyphosate-free mung beans, the additional costs of new equipment pose a significant barrier for wider adoption.
Some experts believe that as chemical residue restrictions tighten globally, swathing could become a viable and necessary solution for the industry.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
