What does IR-4 Project do?

The IR-4 Project is a federally funded, non-profit agricultural program established in 1963 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State Agricultural Experiment Stations. It operates as a partnership involving the USDA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agrochemical industry, commodity groups, and growers. Headquartered at North Carolina State University, the project has regional centers across the United States, including Cornell University and the University of Florida. The mission of the IR-4 Project is to facilitate regulatory approval of sustainable pest management technology for specialty crops. It addresses the challenges faced by growers of high-value specialty crops, such as fruits and vegetables, by generating the necessary data for EPA pesticide registration. The project supports the registration of pesticides for organic production and biopesticides, and it has facilitated over 25,000 crop use registrations. By bridging the gap between growers and regulatory approval, the IR-4 Project plays a vital role in ensuring access to effective pest management tools for the agricultural community.