The Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to its Request for Information on the Innovation Challenge: Alternatives to Conventional Pesticides for Crop Desiccation.
In its comments, BPIA encouraged EPA to ensure biological products are fully considered as the Agency develops the Innovation Challenge. BPIA highlighted the potential for biological innovation to provide growers with additional tools for crop and harvest management while supporting agricultural productivity, resilience, and sustainability.
BPIA also encouraged EPA to support research, field validation, demonstration, and commercialization of biological technologies; promote public-private partnerships; and develop evaluation criteria that recognize agronomic performance, economic feasibility, scalability, environmental benefits, and grower needs.
The comments further highlighted barriers that can slow the adoption of biological products, including regulatory and commercialization timelines, limited opportunities for large-scale field demonstrations, and the need to build grower confidence through education and demonstrated performance.
BPIA looks forward to continued engagement with EPA as the Agency advances the Innovation Challenge and explores innovative, science-based solutions for American agriculture. See BPIA’s comments at BPIA RFI Response 093026.
