IR-4 Project Marks Major Milestone in 60 Years of Impact for Growers
This year, The IR-4 Project commemorates 60 years of operation. Since its establishment by land grant universities and USDA in 1963, IR-4 has championed specialty crop growers by facilitating the registration of safe, effective pest management solutions to meet their unique needs.
According to an economic impact study by Michigan State University in 2022, IR-4 contributes $8.97 billion annually to the gross domestic product. Additionally, seven jobs today can be attributed to every $1,000 of public investment in IR-4.
IR-4 has secured more than 23,000 pest management product registrations through EPA for food crops, and countless others for ornamental crops. Putting farmers’ needs first, IR-4 assesses a range of tools — including reduced-risk chemical and bio-based pesticides, as well as emerging technologies and integrated solutions.
Notable registrations facilitated by IR-4 include Chlorantraniliprole (a reduced-risk conventional pesticide) and Spinosad (a bio-based insecticide approved for both conventional and organic growers). As a result of IR-4’s submissions, these products are approved by EPA for use on numerous specialty crops. IR-4 has also secured several biopesticides to manage Varroa mites in honeybee colonies. These registrations help reduce dietary exposure to pesticides, increase growers’ pest management options, and secure the vitality of the U.S. food supply.
Headquartered at NC State University since 2021 (formerly at Rutgers University), IR-4 works nationwide through four regional offices, each collaborating with growers, commodity groups, state liaisons, land grant university researchers, extension, and industry leaders to determine research priorities and conduct studies. IR-4 also works with international partners to harmonize pesticide regulations, spearheading the effort to streamline crop grouping across agencies.
As the future of pest management grows increasingly complex, IR-4 and USDA-ARS aim to guide the specialty crop community forward with collaborative, pragmatic, and data-driven solutions.
For more, continue reading at GrowingProduce.com.
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