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Miticide Research

Dr. Thomas Handwerker

Chief Scientist for the MannaWell LLC team provides expertise and research support for the cannabis industry and conducted independent field trials in cooperation with Applied Science Labs. He has over 50 years of horticultural experience- building his first greenhouse at age 12. His professional focus has been the development of sustainable farming practices for small family farms and spans over 25 years as Director of the Small Farm Institute at the University of Maryland. He authored over $10 million in research grants.

Privately he developed and operated the first commercial NFT hydroponic lettuce operation in Texas in 1981, expanded into culinary herbs and medicinal plants, and has consulted in over 5 countries. As a professor, his Institute designed and promoted the establishment of a network of family farms with ½ acre greenhouse modules (with zero nutrient discharge) that produced over $60 million in annual sales. He negotiated contracts between the University and commercial horticultural companies- one that grew into the largest horticultural greenhouse operation in Maryland and with the largest international orchid propagator (tissue culture) in China. His background in organic chemistry and post-harvest physiology has been used in recirculating aquaculture systems, hatcheries, aquaponics, hydroponics, processing, and greenhouse manufacturing. All of this being the perfect background for now aiding the cannabis grower.

Dr. Thomas Handwerker

Today the MannaWell team has over 27 years of combined cultural expertise in indoor and outdoor cultivation of cannabis and focuses on the sustainable technologies that support media and nutrient management for continuous re-use of materials. They are instrumental in the development of application technologies that support the organic production of cannabis with an Integrated Pest Management Program to produce a medically acceptable product under existing regulatory constraints including California’s Title 16 that requires batch analysis and certification.

Dr.Handwerker
MannaWell Group Research
Warning with OMRI Listing

Miticide Green 502 Response

May I suggest that you reply as follows. Likewise, it is likely that you will be asked again. People are trying to find their way. Up until July 1st, 2018, 502 was a meaningful guidepost. As of July 1st, 2018, this is no longer so.

Perhaps this that follows as a product statement on "letterhead" under signature by the "Company."

  • 1 Washington State 502 refers to EPA federally "registered" pesticides which are permissible in Washington state. California enacted a far more restrictive qualification. It is unlikely that 502 treated product would pass and qualify under California's Title 16. EPA has two tiers of pesticides. The first are all those that are considered minimal risk, Generally Recognized As Safe, which they do not register. There are only 31 such elements. Miticide Green is made of only these qualifying elements, therefore EPA does not require registration and is therefore not a 502 pesticide. The other tier is all others, all of which are to some degree toxic and must be registered. Some of the less toxic, albeit toxic, are 502 registered. Additionally, many of the chemical pesticides listed in the federal registry under 502, though provided for would under Washington State regulations would not pass California's Title 16 mandated testing and certification. Too toxic, too dangerous to be permitted. Many of the residues have been shown to be extremely toxic. Toxicity increases geometrically when these materials are carbonized, i.e. lit. California's standard is primarily directed toward the idea of legalization for "medical purposes." Those having medical purposes are inclined to fragile health. California's attempt is to protect the most vulnerable. California, therefore determined that because of the prospects of medially fragile people being exposed to chemicals, that might otherwise be toxic, such risks should not be taken as to this community and by extension to any one in the state. Since the standard has been set for the fragile, most likely to be injured, everyone benefits. 502 products have not been shown to provide for this level of public health and safety. All EPA "registered" pesticides are toxic to some degree. Therefore all 502 products are toxic to some degree. This is unacceptable to California's standards. We're not passing judgment on California's law. What we are saying is that our product has been shown to pass California's Title 16 standards.
  • 2 Under the Federal Insecticide Rodenticide Act, FIFRA, section 25(b) provides that for pesticides made only of the 31 active elements and approximately 160 inactive elements as defined by EPA as Generally Recognized As Safe, GRAS, are not to be registered by the EPA. (Because there are so few elements that so qualify under EPA regulations, not many people are familiar. California's Title 16 will likely change this. Our products, unlike 502 or even OMRI listed products, EPA terms GRAS, are 100% nontoxic, have no odor and have been shown to pass California Title 16 state certified testing. This is not true of 502 pesticides or of some OMRI listed products.
  • 3 Therefore, we make these statements;
    A. Miticide Green kills all strains of all three mites, thrips and soil lice.
    B. Independent field trials, indoor and outdoor, demonstrate no harm to plants.
    C. As you can see for yourself, the product is reasonably priced and is not intended to take advantage of its position in this highly regulated market, and
    D. Certification reports that no only did the independent residue test show that the tested for elements were below permissible levels, it showed NONE DETECTED. N/T
    This is all new territory and as time passes these differences will become more evident. In the meantime, thank you for your question.
    If you are having a problem or know someone that is, we are sorry, but thank you for the opportunity to be of help.

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