NRSPOLD4: High Value Specialty Crop Pest Management
(National Research Support Project Summary)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
NRSPOLD4: High Value Specialty Crop Pest Management
Duration: 10/01/2004 to 09/30/2010
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
NRSP-4(IR-4 ) facilitates a broad range of research activities focused on providing critical pest management tools for growers of high value specialty crops throughout the US. The NRSP funding supports the administration and coordination of the program, but it does not support research activities directly. IR-4 research is funded by other USDA sources and the private sector.
IR-4 mission is to provide pest management solutions for growers of high value specialty crops. IR-4 has considerable expertise in, and focuses its effort on chemical and biological pest management tools that require registration by EPA. This includes materials that promote or enhance the growth and development of plants.
Specialty crops include most vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs, nursery and flower crops. Over 500 food and feed crops in the US are classified as minor. All ornamental crops are minor. The total value of these crops in the U.S. is approximately $40 billion which represents 40 percent of the total value of all crops (1997 Census of Agriculture) and it is generally recognized that this amount is increased approximately 4-fold by processing into higher value products. The economic importance of these crops varies widely among the states. In nearly half of the states, high value specialty crops represents 50% or greater of the total value of all crops grown. Their value exceeds 75% of the value of all crops in 13 states (AK, CA, CT, FL, HI, ME, MA, NV, NH, NJ, RI, VA, and VT). Further, these crops are the fruits, vegetables, herbs and nuts that nutritionists recommend as being essential for a balanced and healthy diet. At times, the IR-4 mission extends beyond high value specialty crops. It also includes minor uses of crop protection tools on major crops such as corn and soybeans in those cases where there are localized, infrequent or sporadic pest problems.
IR-4 was established and is still needed today because there are insufficient financial incentives for the agrochemical industry to invest in registering their products in specialty crops. Additionally, there are potential liability issues from crop injury in low acreage, high value crops that may create unfavorable risk-reward relationships for registrants. IR-4 develops the data to support the registrations. In doing so, IR-4 helps to improve the international competitiveness of US agriculture. As the agrochemical industry continues to undergo worldwide consolidation, the resources devoted to specialty crops and minor uses continue to diminish. This makes the role of IR-4 increasingly critical for maintaining the efficient and competitive production of these high value crops in the US.
The need for IR-4 was reinforced in 1996 by the passage of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). This required that nearly all the 10,000 pesticide tolerances in effect in 1996 be reassessed over a 10-year period and every 15 years thereafter. Significant losses of important uses of older compounds have and will continue to occur. EPA has given priority to the registration of replacements for organophosphate insecticides with Reduced Risk chemicals. These Reduced Risk chemicals have been the major focus of the IR-4 effort in the last 5 years. Since new and improved chemicals will continue to be marketed, continued regulatory action against older, widely used, chemicals is inevitable. In addition, the re-registration of all active ingredients is now set on a recurring 15 year cycle. Therefore, the need for a substantial IR-4 effort can confidently be predicted to continue for at least the next decade.
The primary stakeholders of the research activities of IR-4 are the domestic growers of specialty crops and food processors. The stakeholders have significant involvement with the operations of IR-4. IR-4 has established an IR-4 Commodity Liaison Committee (CLC) consisting of growers, representatives of commodity groups and food processors. This 15 member committee meets several times a year to provide IR-4 guidance on procedures and policy. The Chair of the CLC is a member of the IR-4 Project Management Committee. In addition, other grower and commodity representatives are encouraged to assist in the establishment of research priorities at annual priority setting workshops. The significance of this program to its stakeholders is encapsulated in three recent (2003) statements from growers groups:
IR-4 has been instrumental in us receiving 15 new clearances for hops, and has supported numerous Emergency Clearances. Additional new products are in the registration pipeline, with several scheduled for approval by 2004. I can safely say that without IR-4, there would be no domestic hop industry. Ann George, Administrator of the Washington Hops Commission and the US Hop Industry Plant Protection Committee.
The U.S mint industry and the vast majority of Americas minor crops are totally dependent upon the IR-4 Program for providing the pest control products which are essential for minor crop production. Rocky Lundy, Executive Director of the Mint Research Council and Chair of IR-4 Commodity Liaison Committee.
The IR-4 program and their work on behalf of the ornamentals industry has been invaluable. They are critical in our industry's efforts to find new and alternative pest-management tools to ensure that the nursery and landscape industry remains viable. Geoff Galster, former Director of Regulatory Affairs for the American Nursery & Landscape Association.
Two comments from the recent (May, 2003) USDA external review of IR-4 also emphasize the significance of the role of IR-4 for its stakeholders:
IR-4 focuses on technologies that would improve pest management solutions and not be developed without their assistance and leadership.
The IR-4 program is a very good program and is integral to the future success of U.S. minor crops.
Copies of the Report of the Peer Review Team and a draft of the IR-4 response document are attached as Appendices 2 and 3.
Prerequisite Criteria
How is the NRSP consistent with the mission?
How does the NRSP pertain to a national issue?
Rationale
Priority Established by ESCOP/ESS
Relevance to Stakeholders
Implementation
Objectives
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To obtain the regulatory clearance of crop protection chemicals for high value specialty crops and minor uses on major crops with special emphasis on Reduced Risk chemicals. Our specific goal is to obtain at least 500 clearances annually. However, this assumes that current funding levels are maintained at the FY 2003 level, adjusted for inflation, and key regulatory agencies continue their current ability to process IR-4 petitions.
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To conduct research to enhance the development and registration of microbial and specific biochemical materials (biopesticides) for use in pest management programs. Our specific goal is to support at least 40 competitive biopesticide development projects annually and to provide the data to register at least 50 new biopesticide uses per year.
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To seek further improvements in the productivity of the ornamentals registration program by: (a). Reorganizing the program for better prioritization of projects and stakeholder input using the food use program as a model. (b). Establishing at least five Ornamentals Research Centers across the US. (c). Expanding the funding available for ornamentals studies.
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Projected Outcomes
Management, Budget and Business Plan
See attached budget document.
Integration
Integration of Effort
a. Integration
The key steps involved in integration across the IR-4 program were described in the previous section, which highlights the considerable scope of involvement and integrated effort of the numerous stakeholders. A brief overview of current partnering activities with stakeholders as a key element of integration is provided below. The IR-4 partnership extends to growers, food processors, commodity organizations, the crop protection industry, and the USEPA. Recently, it has been expanded to include Canadas Pest Management Regulatory Agency and Californias Department of Pesticide Regulation.
b. Partnerships
The USDA external review team noted the following concerning these partnerships:
Stakeholders are very supportive and laud IR-4 for its partnering skills and
EPA views IR-4 as a model for a cooperative partnership
Jim Jones, Director of EPAs Office of Pesticide Programs, subsequently stated:
"More than any other public or private entity that we work with at EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, IR-4 has proven to be a model partner. Of particular importance to EPA has been IR-4's focus on Reduced Risk pesticides. It should be no surprise that IR-4 is the most prolific submitter of pesticide tolerance petitions as well as the most
successful in having their petitions approved by EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs".
Outreach, Communications and Assessment
Current Activities IR-4 realizes the importance of outreach and communications to maintain awareness of the programs activities among its varied stakeholders and supporters. In 1999, IR-4 committed to considerably enhance its outreach program by hiring a full time Outreach Communications Coordinator on a trial basis. Because of its subsequent success, this expanded program is now regarded as a permanent part of the IR-4 program. IR-4s audiences are high value specialty crops growers, food processors and consumers, those who carry out the program in the land grant and ARS systems, and those who provide the financial support on which IR-4 depends. The tools IR-4 uses to reach its audiences are: bi-weekly reports on clearances that have been accepted, monthly reports from the IR-4 Executive Director, a quarterly newsletter that informs 2,500 stakeholders about news and events, an annual report, and annual State Report Cards that document the clearances obtained specific to each state. A system of monthly News Briefs was initiated in 2002 to provide regular rapid updates on items of special significance to the program and its stakeholders. The IR-4 web site (http://ir4.rutgers.edu) contains much of this information and also allows stakeholders to track the progress of specific IR-4 projects. Illustrated brochures and a downloadable PowerPoint slide set are available that provide a basic description of IR-4s mission and how the program works.