Gas applications manager for BOC, Chris Dolman, has accepted an invitation from the Australian Government to speak at a major biosecurity conference in Indonesia this month.

Mr Dolman will address key industry and government decision makers on BOC’s pioneering non‐ozone depleting fumigants at the Biosecurity Treatments – Methyl Bromide and Alternatives conference at Surabaya from May 12‐13.

Co‐hosted by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and the Indonesian Agricultural Quarantine Agency, the event will attract representatives from the manufacturing and exporting industries, treatment providers and government agencies interested in either reducing their reliance on methyl bromide or adopting new treatments.

Mr Dolman said it would be an important forum for demonstrating the latest in alternative biosecurity applications.

“With ozone depleting methyl bromide being phased out due to environmental concerns and international obligations under the Montreal Protocol, BOC is leading the way in the development of eco‐friendly alternatives such as Vapormate and EDN Fumigas which are providing certainty for the agriculture and timber industries,’’ Mr Dolman said.

Mr Dolman said Vapormate and EDN Fumigas were gradually changing the way the agriculture and forestry sectors approached fumigation.

“They have no known ozone depletion or global warming potential and are Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) by the US FDA.

“The fumigants have been developed for a broad range of applications including soil treatment pre‐planting through to post‐harvest fumigation, modified atmosphere packaging and equipment protection.

“They are suited to a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, forestry and logging applications and the list of regulatory approvals is expanding rapidly,’’ he said.

Mr Dolman has also been at the forefront of developing methods to help ensure food security around the world as the head of Linde Gases’ Crop Science business.

He said that unwanted and harmful organisms were becoming an increasingly global and complex problem, ranging from microorganisms such as bacteria and moulds to arthropods such as insects and spiders, to specific types of plants

With these challenges in mind, Crop Science offers innovative fumigant products to protect both food produce itself and the producer’s investment, while allowing for genuine sustainable agriculture.

 About Chris Dolman: Chris Dolman is one of Australia’s leading fumigation and crop science specialists, having held the position of Business Manager for Gas Applications at BOC Limited since 2011. He has been instrumental in developing the Global Crop Science business for BOC and parent company the Linde Group as well as commercialising new fumigants including eco-friendly alternatives to methyl bromide on a global scale. Chris has extensive international experience, with past roles including Commercial Manager of Special Products for BOC in the UK, presiding over a £77m business and Chemicals Product Manager in the UK where he led a £12.1 million company acquisition. He holds a double degree in business administration and psychology from Sydney’s Macquarie University and numerous post‐graduate qualifications.