Market Pull for BMPs & NRCS:
Synergies to Explore?
T. A. Green, Ph.D., C.C.A., T.S.P.
IPM Institute of North America, Inc. * Marketplace incentives for IPM adoption
2004, 2005 EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship National Champion
2005 EPA Children’s Health Recognition Award Winner
2003 EPA Region V Recognition Award Winner
www.ipminstitute.org
GOALS
• Why?
• Market drivers
• Opportunities?
• Guarantee BMP/IPM
performance?
Legacy of current/past practices
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> 5 pesticides in 75% of streams tested
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91 chemicals in the average human body
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17 are pesticide breakdown products
Includes carcinogens; neuro, reproductive and
developmental toxins
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Heinz Center for the Environment, 2002
Environmental Working Group, Commonweal, Mt. Sinai
School of Community Medicine; CDC; 2003
Chemicals, pesticides in household dust,
drinking water, air, etc.
We are making progress!
•
Reduced chlorpyrifos levels in
infants after EPA restrictions
Whyatt et al., 2004
• Bald eagle nesting pairs
increase from 417 to 5,748 after
DDT ban
Fish & Wildlife Service, 2003
• Organic diet significantly
lowers organophosphates in
kid’s urine
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2005
Market Pull!
Market Drivers are Hard at Work!
ECO LABEL EXPLOSION!
“A seal or logo indicating that a product has met a
set of environmental or social standards”
• Organic growing at 20% year
– growing fastest in UK, home of ‘mad cow’
• Many new eco-labels on the bandwagon
– see www.eco-labels.org by Consumers
Union/Consumer Reports
• LOHAS segment: 30% = 63 million US buyers
– see www.lohas.com
• Green building, cleaning, chemistry, health care,
clothing, consumer electronics…
IPM: Practice-Based Certification
• Rainforest Alliance
– Chiquita, Ben & Jerry’s, Kraft
– 81 employees, $9 million budget
• Forest Stewardship Council
– Founded 1993, $1 billion in ’04
– Home Depot, IKEA, Time-Warner
• Food Alliance
– 215 producers, 16 states, 2 million acres
– new markets, 8% price premium on average
• Protected Harvest, SYSCO many more
in ag and non-ag
SYSCO Sustainable Ag/IPM Audit
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IPM team
IPM resources
Track and reduce pesticide use
Track and reduce nutrient use
Training
Resistance management
Identify key pests
Identify full range of mgt. options
Implement systematic monitoring
Use action thresholds
Track/reduce pesticides by toxicity
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
10 pts.
Opportunities?
– Land grant research outputs are “best
practice” standards – Why aren’t we educating
consumers/taxpayers about this benefit?
– Third-party BMP auditors as eyes and ears for
government incentive programs? Don’t make
me do the same paperwork twice!!!!!!!!!!
– Third-party audit costs – some states costshare organic, why not IPM, sustainable?
– Cost-share for improvements mandated by
third-party audit programs?
– Let’s take advantage of this “private” sector
infrastructure!
Don’t get left behind!
When I grow up,
I’m going to be an
ECO BUYER!
Guarantee BMP/IPM results
• Farmer or sponsor purchases coverage
• Crop advisor prepares NMP or scouts
• Farmer applies recommended BMP rate
• Crop advisor locates check strip, isolates
any yield loss to BMP issues
• Farmer is paid on net returns: Yield
difference minus input savings
• Great educational tool!
Thank you!
IPM Institute of North America, Inc.
2004, 2005 EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship National Champion
2005 EPA Children’s Health Recognition Award Winner
2003 EPA Region V Recognition Award Winner
www.ipminstitute.org