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Kathy Brunetti, Agriculture Program Supervisor
California Department of Pesticide Regulation
830 KStreet, Sacramento, California, USA 95814
voice (916) 324-4100, FAX (916) 324-4088, brunetti@empm.cdpr.ca.gov
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<fontfamily><param>Arial</param>January 22, 1998 (99-02)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SACRAMENTO -- Cal/EPA's Department of Pesticide Regulation has awarded
$722,731 to support 28 innovative projects that promote
environmentally-friendly pest management techniques.
DPR awarded grants totaling $338,450 to 13 demonstration projects.
Another 15 grants designated for applied research received $384,281.
Recipients were chosen from among 73 proposals to the Department's 1999
Pest Management Grants program. Individual grants ranged from about
$9,000 to $30,000. The wide-ranging projects include:
Developing alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation for nurseries and
strawberry growers in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties;
Educating urban residents of San Mateo County on pest control
techniques that reduce the risk of pesticide runoff from homes and
gardens;
Establishing school gardens in Berkeley and Oakland to grow fresh
vegetables for low-income children while educating them in ecology,
food and agriculture; and
Replacing use of conventional pesticides with "mating disruption"
techniques that interfere with pest life cycles in apple orchards
(Contra Costa County) and pear orchards (Mendocino County).
"This is the fourth group of awards for our Pest Management grant
program," said DPR Chief Deputy Director Jean-Mari Peltier. "While
these 28 projects offer an impressive variety of research and
demonstration work, all share the same worthy goals -- promoting
reduced-risk pest management strategies, developing least-toxic methods
and increasing protection for Californians and our environment."
"California farmers work hand-in-hand with nature on a daily basis,"
said William "Bill" Lyons Jr., Secretary of the California Department
of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). "These grants will help our growers
develop more tools to protect our environment and maintain their world
leadership in the production of food and fiber."
Grant awards were recommended by the Pest Management Advisory
Committee (PMAC), co-founded by CDFA and DPR to promote reduced-risk
pest management. The PMAC includes representatives from conventional
agriculture, organic farming, government agencies, environmental
groups, the University of California, and California State University.
"The program's success is due in large part to the PMAC's efforts, and
we are grateful to the committee members for their hard work," said
Peltier.
Since 1996, DPR has awarded more than $2.7 million for reduced-risk
pest management projects.
This year, in addition to Pest Management Grants, DPR plans to award
approximately $750,000 to continue the Pest Management Alliance
Program. It will support larger scale efforts in applied research and
demonstration projects for integrated pest management. IPM stresses the
application of biological, mechanical, and cultural pest control
techniques. Pesticides are used only when needed to achieve acceptable
levels of pest control, and with the least possible impact on
non-target
organisms and the environment.
DPR is one of six departments and boards within Cal/EPA.
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