Source: USDA, 12/6/21

IR-4 MINOR CROP PEST MANAGEMENTNON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The IR-4 Project facilitates registration of crop protection technology for specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, ornamentals, other horticulture crops) and minor uses on major crops (corn, soybean, wheat, etc.) to manage insect, plant disease, weed and other destructive pests. IR-4accomplishes its mission by developing the data required by US Environmental Protection Agency, the states, and industry to expand registrations with conventional pesticides and biopesticides. IR-4 supplements the efforts of industry in markets that lack adequate sales to support their development investment. IR-4 provides significant deliverables with positive impacts to stakeholders that include new registrations for key pests; extending registrations to include similar crops through crop grouping/data extrapolation; and assisting in the harmonization of international Maximum Residue Levels to remove pesticide residues in crops as a trade barrier. IR-4 concentrates its efforts on lower risk technology that respects human health and the environment. This gives the specialty crop farmers/growers access to crop protection technology to better manage pests in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Organic growers also benefit from registrations of biopesticides derived from natural materials.IR-4 Headquarters (HQ), a unit of NC State University, manages/coordinates activities for the national IR-4 Project. HQ coordinates research activities with collaborations with the four IR-4 Regional Centers (NE-University of Maryland Eastern Shore; NC-Michigan State University, SR-University of Florida, and WR-University of California-Davis), USDA-ARS, IR-4's field research farms, commodity/grower groups, the crop protection industry, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, EPA, and foreign governments.OBJECTIVES: The IR-4 Project was established in 1963 by the USDA to provide assistance to growers of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, ornamentals and other specialty crops by facilitating the regulatory approval of conventional chemical pesticides and biopesticides to manage insects, plant diseases, weeds and other pests that reduce crop yield or quality. IR-4 also assists with the regulatory approval of pest management technology for minor uses on major crops.The IR-4 Project accomplishes its mission through the development and submission of the high quality data required by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory authorities to support registration decisions. Regulatory authorities require magnitude of the residue and/or product performance data on synthetic chemical pesticides, biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides, plant incorporated protectants and other technologies to assess the risk and benefits. The IR-4 Project submissions traditionally support approximately 50% of the EPA registrations for new uses of existing pesticides/biopesticides. The core objectives of the IR-4 Project are:1) Facilitate registrations of crop protection products on specialty food crops and minor uses. IR-4 supports the production of specialty food crops (fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, etc.) and minor uses on major crops by developing data required by US Environmental Protection Agency to register reduced risk chemical and bio-based pesticides. Emphasis will be placed on using lower/reduced risk chemicals and encouraging uses compatible with IPM and resistance management programs. Components include:Magnitude of residue studies to determine the amount of pesticide residue remaining on a specialty crop after being exposed to applications of a pesticide;Product performance studies to develop efficacy and crop safety data that are required by a state (e.g. California) or company to "prove" that the proposed use is safe and effective;Integrated Solutions to focus on the development of "systems" to mitigate, or lower, the level of chemical pesticide in fruits and vegetables at harvest, to develop processes to avoid pest resistance to pesticides or to manage hard to control pests; andCrop grouping to establish extrapolation models for residue data for certain representative crops used to establish pesticide tolerances for those a group of crops that are botanically related.Cooperate with various domestic and international partners to harmonize global pesticide registration standards for specialty crops. Pesticide residues can be a technical trade barrier to export of US grown specialty crops. IR-4, working with USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, Agriculture and Ag-Food Canada, European Union Minor Use Coordination Facility, the Minor Use Foundation and other international organizations are developing systems and data to support global harmonization of pesticide residues and pesticide regulatory practices.2) Provide regulatory support to assist public sector scientists and small business achieve pesticide registrations with new technology. IR-4 will provide regulatory support and guidance to help public sector and small business obtain registrations for Plant Incorporated Protectants (including genetically modified organisms, RNAi, and gene-edited organisms) and other new technology through US Environmental Protection Agency. Regulatory support will also be provided to assist organic growers by obtaining approval of products for use in certified organic production..3) Develop product performance data needed to support registration of chemical and bio-based pesticides on environmental horticulture crops. IR-4 will develop necessary product efficacy and/or plant safety data (collectively called Product Performance) to assist in the approval of pesticide registrations or prohibitions for environmental horticulture crops. Emphasis will be placed on using lower/reduced risk chemicals and encouraging uses compatible with IPM and resistance management programs.