For several decades, methyl bromide has been a mainstay treatment to kill a wide array of quarantined pests. A study by Agricultural Research Service (USDA) and research laboratories in the US aims to advance the current technology to enable the heating effect of radio waves to kill plant pests on a commercial scale in places such as orchards, packinghouses and food plants. Electromagnetic waves of radio frequency can make molecules vibrate and heat up, in the same way that microwaves heat food. ßThe trick is to kill pest insects without killing or denaturing the host product. The study, which began in 2000, is to determine if radio waves would be an economical, environmentally friendly alternative to the use of methyl bromide and other chemicals to effectively rid fruits and nuts of live insects. Whether such techniques can be effectively applied to the sterilization of soil and to other horticultural applications at an economic cost is not part of this research study. The Agricultural Research Service is the chief scientific research agency for the USDA (US Department of Agriculture). February issue of Agricultural Research magazine www.agriworld.nl www.ars.usda.gov