EPA's Biopesticide Demonstration Program

Last summer the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) of the US Environmental Protection Agency, rolled out the Biopesticides Demonstration Program (BPD), its collaborative program aimed at promoting and enhancing the image of biopesticides. The BPD is being implemented in cooperation with the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) and the USDA/Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) as a competitive grants program. Dr. Janet Anderson (BPPD Director) has described this project as "an effort toward increasing awareness of innovative and effective options for integrating biological approaches into existing agricultural production systems."

The initial focus of the Biopesticide Demonstration Program will be to encourage demonstrations of promising biopesticides on sites represented by PESP members (http://www.epa.gov/oppdppd1/PESP/) and other grower organizations. BPPD will broker and facilitate these demonstrations and display their results on their web page. Participating registrants will benefit by having their product demonstrated by grower organizations formally involved in an EPA-funded agricultural environmental stewardship program.

In order to participate in EPA-brokered field demonstrations, you would be asked to provide efficacy and product performance data; submit an analysis of the potential reduction in risk associated with the use of your product as compared to conventional synthetic organic pesticides; and to provide technical and other in-kind support. Projects will be funded competitively. Importantly, it may be possible for you to submit efficacy and other field data for posting on the BPPD website, without actually participating in a PESP-related demonstration project.

Attached herein is a request for proposal (RFP) for the Biopesticides Demonstration. This call is open to those organizations involved in work that can enhance the adoption of registered biopesticides in agricultural and non-agricultural settings. The invitation to participate is extended to organizations representing the biopesticide industry, grower, and land grant university communities. Biopesticide and conventional pesticide companies are encouraged to cooperate in developing proposals to demonstrate biologically-intensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems. Biopesticides utilized in the demonstration projects must already be approved for use by BPPD. Note that request for proposals for the IR-4/EPA Biopesticide Demonstration Grant Program should not be mistaken for RFP announcements for the IR-4 Biopesticide Grant Program. The attached RFP details the grant focus, funding limit, application process, criteria for evaluation of the BDP proposals, and other logistical information. Lastly, please note that the due date for proposals is March 19, 2004.

We will continue to keep you updated on the developments and evolution of the Biopesticide Demonstration Program and to provide you with future RFPs as they are released. If you should have any questions regarding the BDP or need any assistance relative to this Program, please contact any SciReg specialist.

DEMONSTRATION GRANT 2004