North Carolina State University

IR-4 Project Headquarters (HQ) Manages and Coordinates All Activities for the National IR-4 Project Including Research Efforts With Conventional and Bio-based Pesticides to Support Us Environmental Protection Agency Registration on Specialty Food and Non-food Crops (fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Nuts, Ornamentals) and Other Minor Uses on Major Crops. the Need for the IR-4 Project Is Economic - Registrants of Pesticides/biopesticides Focus Their Development Efforts on Major Crops and Major Markets. IR-4 Fills the Niche by Developing the Required Data to Extend These Registrations to Specialty Crops/minor Uses. HQ Coordinates All Activities With Collaborators and Researchers Including Commodity/grower Groups, the Crop Protection Industry, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, Epa, Usda and Cooperating Foreign Governments. the National IR-4 Project Provides Significant Deliverables With Positive Impacts to Stakeholders That Include: New Registrations for Key Pests; Extending the Value Ofdata to Include Similar Crops Through Crop Grouping and Extrapolation; and Assisting in the Harmonization of International Maximum Residue Levels to Remove Pesticide Residues in Crops as a Trade Barrier. IR-4'S Focus on Registration of Crop Protection Products Deemed Lower Risk for Humans and the Environment Benefits Society, as a Whole, While Giving the Specialty Crop Producers Technology to Better Manage Diseases, Pests and Weeds in a Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Manner. Organic Growers Also Benefit From Registrations of Biopesticides Derived From Natural Materials.