Assemblymember Ash Kalra of San Jose is hoping to clarify the definition of integrated pest management in state code.
His new bill would describe it as “a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks.” Assembly Bill 2509 would also designate invasive species as nonnative organisms that cause—or are likely to cause—economic or environmental harm. It excludes people and livestock.
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Kalra has been at the opposite end of the political spectrum to California ag. In the last two sessions, he pushed for compensating H-2A guestworkers for travel time to job sites. He has also supported subsidies for plant-based school meals and criticized meat and dairy producers for inefficient water use as well as for greenhouse gas emissions.
The California Invasive Plant Council has been urging lawmakers to update the IPM definition to emphasize that chemical control does fall within the practices.
