In an ongoing effort help Californians transition away from the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will hold three roundtable discussions this month across the state.
Last year DPR announced that virtually all agricultural use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos in California will end by December 31, 2020. In order to support the transition to safer, more sustainable alternatives, DPR and CDFA have convened a work group to identify, evaluate, and recommend alternative pest management solutions. The roundtable style discussion sessions are an opportunity to gather public input on their work to date.
DPR and CDFA also plan to award $2 million in grants to support the development of safe, more sustainable alternatives to chlorpyrifos.
DPR is soliciting research ideas and is currently accepting grant concepts that advance alternatives to chlorpyrifos with the goal of developing and fostering integrated pest management practices (IPM). You can find more details here. The initial concepts are due by February 7th.
CDFA will award approximately $1 million in grants to expand outreach about innovative biologically integrated farming systems that reduce chemical insecticide inputs. Crops that have used chlorpyrifos will be a priority.
The public can provide input to the Work Group about alternatives to chlorpyrifos via email at alternatives@cdpr.ca.gov.
The agenda for the public roundtable discussions can be found here.
The discussions will be held follows:
Fresno, CA
January 14, 2020
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (Spanish, Mixteco Baja and Hmong interpreters available).
Mosqueda Community Center (Reading and Beyond)
4670 E. Butler Avenue
Fresno, CA 93702
Sacramento, CA
January 16, 2020
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (Spanish interpreters available).
Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Headquarters Building
Byron Sher Auditorium
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Oxnard, CA
January 21, 2020
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (Spanish and Mixteco Alta interpreters available).
South Oxnard Senior Center
200 E. Bard Road
Oxnard, CA 93033