IRVINE, CA - California’s governor has a roadmap up his sleeve, a pest management roadmap, mind you. Governor Gavin Newsom recently released his Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap, which was designed to identify, prioritize, and implement stringent pesticide reductions in California by 2050.

In response to this plan, Western Growers recently advocated for science-backed procedures to dictate how this plan is rolled out.

“The California Department of Pesticide Regulation must move quickly to register effective and efficient alternatives prior to imposing new use restrictions on existing pesticides,” Matthew Allen, Western Growers Vice President of State Government Affairs, commented in the association’s release.

The roadmap consists of an SPM Work Group, consisting of 33 leaders, and an Urban Subgroup, where nine leaders were invited to collaborate and develop guidance.

“The Department must continue to use the best available scientific data and methods in evaluating pesticides and they, frankly, have a duty to remind the public that California already has the most comprehensive regulatory system in place that protects the health and safety of applicators, bystanders, and surrounding communities,” concluded Allen.

Keep an eye out for AndNowUKnow to report on the latest.

Western Growers