The Integrated Solutions (IS) program evaluates pest management technologies that specialty crop growers can integrate into their traditional programs to meet their unique needs.
Potential technologies include conventional pesticides, biopesticides, organic solutions, and other alternative control tools such as pheromones, traps, baits, and more.
Once the best performing technology(s) is identified, IR-4 will use data to support product registration or additional performance and/or residue studies needed to bring the product to market.
Research Areas
The IS program collaborates with academia, commodity groups, and industry partners to help specialty crop growers in the following research areas. Click on each research area for more information.
Growers of specialty crops often lack effective tools against chronic or emerging pests. The IS program screens and identifies new technologies that could used to manage these pests.
An increasing number of pests are developing resistance to technologies currently available on the market. The IS program offers support to specialty crop growers by screening, identifying, and supporting the registration of tools that utilize different methods for managing pests.
Organic specialty crop growers are required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program to meet national standards for their crops to be considered organic. IR-4’s IS Program assesses existing and emerging organic pest management technologies.
Some countries have lowered their Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for certain pest management technologies, resulting in limitations on what crops American growers can export. The IS program assesses different product use patterns and rotations to ensure that MRLs do not exceed updated limits.
Submitting a Request
Start the process by filling out the IS Request For Assistance form.
For questions or help with this form, contact your regional field coordinator.
IR-4 Headquarters reviews requests that are submitted throughout the year. If a request is approved to move forward, IR-4 will share it with the regional field coordinator so it can be considered among other local needs during regional priority discussions each summer. Projects prioritized locally are then considered for national prioritization at the annual Food Use Workshop in September. If the project is prioritized at the workshop, researchers will be contacted in the following months to finalize research plans for the following calendar year.