About the IR-4 Food Use Program

Facilitating the regulatory approval of crop protection chemicals on food crops continues to be the central objective of the IR-4 Project.

Research Activities
Since 1963, IR-4 stakeholders have submitted thousands of requests for assistance. The potential researchable projects to address these requests are prioritized each year at the annual IR-4 Food Use Workshop. From there, field trials are assigned to IR-4 Field Research Centers and sample analyses to Analytical Laboratories at the SAES or USDA-ARS facilities. All studies are conducted under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Good Laboratory Practice standards. When necessary, other cooperating facilities or contractors are utilized to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner.
In most studies, the chemical is applied in the field in a manner that simulates proposed grower use of the product on the target specialty crop. When the crop growth has reached the appropriate stage, samples of the crop are collected and shipped to the analytical laboratory where the amount of chemical remaining in or on the crop is determined. Field and laboratory data from this research are compiled in regulatory packages (petitions) and submitted to the EPA, requesting establishment of new tolerances (Maximum Residue Limits or MRLs).