Researches concerning protection of stored commodities are conducted at universities, research centers on the following aspects:
- basic laboratory experiments on the effect of carbon dioxide in controlled atmosphere against stored grain pests,
- development of insect resistance to phosphine and carbon dioxide,
- development of insect resistance to insecticides,
- effect of plant extracts and dusts against stored product pests,
- efficacy of. insecticides against stored product pests.
- determination of pesticide residues in stored commodities,
- field investigation for increasing the yield of grains.
However, applied experiments on large scales are very scarce. Also extension service on protection of stored grains on farms and for private dealers does not exist all over the country.
Due to the resolution of the UN-Conference in Rio de Janeiro 1992, it is not allowed to use methyl bromide on the short term and phosphine on the long run because of their hazardous effects on the environment. Thus a special problem will arise, since the two gases are widely applied in Egypt for combating post harvest pests. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to search for adequate alternatives of the two fumigants.