Kathy Brunetti
Calif. Dept. Pesticide Regulation
brunetti@empm.cdpr.ca.gov
*************
SACRAMENTO -- Cal/EPA's Department of Pesticide Regulation is taking
applications for approximately $750,000 in grants for projects aimed at
developing reduced-risk methods of controlling pests.
The winning projects must be cost effective, reduce environmental and
health risks, and show potential for widespread adoption. Funding is
available for demonstration and applied research projects in both
agricultural and nonagricultural pest control.
"Reduced-risk pest management practices are based on knowledge of the
ecosystem and the biology of the pests," said Jean-Mari Peltier, DPR
Chief Deputy Director. "These pest management systems are inherently
more stable because they emphasize biological and cultural controls or
other reduced-risk management practices."
Grants are available from $10,000 to $30,000 per year. Funding is for
one year, but may be renewed for two additional years based on
performance. Approximately $500,000 is available for demonstration
projects, and the remaining $250,000 for applied research.
Priority for _demonstration<italic>_ </italic>grant funding will be
given to:
*Projects that develop reduced-risk replacement systems for pest
management materials that may be impacted through implementation of the
Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. This includes projects focusing
on alternatives for organophosphates, carbamates, and methyl bromide,
and alternatives for crop disease fungicides identified as probable
carcinogens.
*Integrated pest management (IPM) projects for public schools.
*IPM projects in structural, ornamental, and other nonagricultural
sectors.
*Agricultural and nonagricultural pest management projects that address
the protection of surface and ground water quality.
Priority for _applied research_ funding will be given to projects that
develop critical components of threatened or disrupted pest management
systems as a result of:
*Regulatory activities such as loss of registered pesticides for minor
crops.
*Environmental and human health impacts.
*Pest resistance.
*Introduction of new pests or new strains of pests.
The deadline for submission of proposals is October 5, 1998. Grants
will be awarded in early spring, 1999.
Grant proposals will be reviewed by the state's Pest Management
Advisory Committee, established in 1992 by DPR and the California
Department of Food and Agriculture. The committee, which will make
recommendations to DPR on which projects to fund, includes
representatives of all aspects of agricultural production--from those
who practice traditional chemical-intensive crop protection techniques
to organic farmers, government regulators, environmental groups active
in the pesticide arena, university representatives and others
knowledgeable about pest management.
For information on the grants program or a copy of the request for
proposals, contact Bob Elliott, Environmental Monitoring and Pest
Management Branch, 830 K Street, Sacramento 95814-3510, phone
916/324-4100, fax 916/324-4088, E-mail <<belliott@cdpr.ca.gov>. The
RFP and information on DPR's Pest Management Grants program is also
available online at <<www.cdpr.ca.gov>.
This is the fourth time DPR has offered funds for reduced-risk pest
management projects. Since 1996, DPR has awarded nearly $2 million in
grants.
In addition to the $750,000 in funding available in the pest
management grants program, DPR will also be awarding $750,000 for pest
management alliances. The alliance program focuses on establishing
partnerships with groups pursuing large-scale projects in pest
management.
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