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| Europe |
| Danish Company Developing Method to Use Plants to Detect Explosive Mines |
| 2004-04-14 |
| .... a Danish company called Aresa Biodetection believes it has found a cheaper and safer method to find land mines by using a plant that changes color when it detects explosives in the soil. It has conducted tests using a genetically modified thale cress plant. ... Aresa’s modified plant changes color from green to red within three to six weeks after its roots detect nitrogen dioxide leaking from explosives inside a mine. The land mines beneath the cress can then be removed more safely. ... Ostergaard said the modified plant was created last January by the company, which has been working on the project since 2001. "At this stage, we have a prototype that we are able to induce the color change when the plants are growing in soil infected with explosives," he said. "We need to produce a lot of plant lines that we need to screen for the right sensitivity to be sure that we can go down to levels and detect a very, very tiny amount of explosives." .... But some are expressing doubts about the plant. One group questioned whether the freshly planted cress could attract livestock into mined areas. .... Aresa’s Ostergaard said the company’s priority is to use it for farmland, the areas most postconflict governments want cleared of mines first. The cress, like agricultural crops, needs water. .... Ostergaard said it will be at least two years before the method is tested in real mine fields. "What we are aiming for is to do testing next year and large-scale tests in 2006," he said. "Actual areas where we want to be -- we haven’t fixed plans -- but we are certainly considering Bosnia and Croatia, Sri Lanka, possibly Africa, and Southeast Asia." He said the next tests will be conducted with the help of the Danish Army. |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #6 Damn.... looked at it again. Genius. We will fight for bovine freedom, And hold our large heads high, We will run free like the buffalo Or Die Cows With Guns! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-14 3:35:07 PM |
| #5 Can't let a chance like this go by. This is old but it's for you Muck. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-14 3:28:09 PM |
| #4 Frank, I'm sorry, but 'Aresa Biodetection' sounds like one of those outfits I keep seeing spam from...: "ostergaard@aresabiodetection.de RE: Big Mines" Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-04-14 1:44:48 PM |
| #3 OK, folks, nothing to see here. Just a good plant gone bad. Move along.... I swear that this whole thing came from the Far Side. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-04-14 1:43:11 PM |
| #2 actually Mucky - it's brilliant - the cress can be sprayed as a hydroseed, and when the cattle grazing on it are blown into delicious cuts of steaks, roasts, flanks, and other meaty goodness, it saves the cost of butchering. If only the cuts could land pre-packaged, it would be be awesome! Mmmmmmmmm beef - it's what's for dinner! With a side salad of Lettuceladies! Who else is hungry? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-04-14 12:48:27 PM |
| #1 this is horible idea. their have to make suree it taste bad for animals before they try this. also i am hate to be the guy who go in field and plant it. |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-04-14 12:37:20 PM |