Science. That’s what it’s really all about, or should be. It’s the one word that is supposed to settle the argument. “Our method is backed by science” but what does that mean? It means that they have objective data, facts, or proof that something works, or doesn’t work. Sometimes…
Objective is the key word here. Science in our universities is not very objective. University studies are more often motivated by funding. So it isn’t really research, it’s more of a confirmation test. For example Company “A” will fund “research” with the university, but it’s really just a test to prove that their product is effective on a specific pathogen. A form of bias confirmation, (or what it really is… the sale of integrity).
With the confirmation test successful, Company “A” can now add (whatever they tested) to the list of uses on the product label, and sell more of that product. The label is the law in Texas, and most other states. If it’s not listed on the label, they cannot recommend it and we cannot use it.
Zack is a friend of mine who discovered the cure for Sudden Oak Death (SOD) in California before any one else. He found a way to trigger the trees own defenses system to overcome the pathogen using an easily applied product. Unfortunately SOD was not on the label, (it wasn’t on any label) so he had a dilemma. Follow the law, and watch trees die, or treat them at the risk of prosecution. Trees won, Zack lost. The state not only prosecuted him, but they allowed a local well known University to patent HIS process for themselves. If the situation were reversed, that would be called theft.
Companies now have the power to limit testing forcing everyone in a certain direction. Their direction. The problem is the solution for Oak WIlt costs too much for some tree owners. There are other ways that are far more cost effective to treat the Tree, but we cannot offer them because of the politics.
So we have found the best way to deal with all of this, is to boost the Tree’s immune system with our BioFeed Tree Feeding Program, and prevent Oak Wilt, cutting out the nonsense and absurd cost that goes with it.