The California Department of Food and Agriculture is looking for innovative new Integrated Pest Management Solutions to manage a targeted group of pests that may arrive and spread in the state.
The agency announced that, until Oct. 11, up to $325,000 in grant funds are available for its Proactive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Solutions Program, administered by the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCA).
“Strategies may include testing various low-risk chemicals, biopesticides, cultural control, life history analysis to determine vulnerable developmental stages, monitoring techniques for tracking pest populations, and testing of natural enemies that could be quickly deployed when these pests become established,” the agency noted in a release.
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Public or private colleges and universities, local, state, and federal government entities, including California Native American tribes, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Project leads must be based in California, though it is encouraged to subcontract with out-of-state collaborators.
“CDFA's proactive IPM program is extremely forward-looking and innovative, and sponsored research is putting California in a very strong position to quickly respond to invasive pests that threaten our agricultural, wilderness, and urban areas,” said Mark S Hoddle, Ph.D., professor of extension in biological control at University of California, Riverside. “This is something every Californian benefits from.”
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