CropLife America's Becca Haynie Shares Pesticide Insights at GRI Seminar
April 7, 2025
Dr Haynie's Seminar
Haynie currently serves as the director of science policy at CropLife America, a trade organization that provides science-backed insights and education on pesticide use to ensure growers have the technologies needed to protect crops, communities, and ecosystems.
During her talk, Haynie highlighted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's process for bringing a new pesticide compound, which typically involves more than 150 tests and research carried out over the course of several years. She noted that the EPA applies a risk-benefit standard that weighs ecological and human risks from a proposed pesticide, as well as the potential benefit to growers and, ultimately, the nation's food supply.
"EPA has a very data-driven process for registering pesticides," Hainey said, highlighting that the research informs the label warnings and regulations that guide the use of the commercial product.
Hainey's talk also touched on the advancements in technology that are decreasing impacts on the environment, such as spray drones that can allow for more precise applications. As drones have become more accessible and easier to use as an agricultural tool, CropLife America has established a working group focused on spray drones to help guide needed research, Hainey said.
"It's an exciting time to be working on this technology, and we are seeing lots of excitement with end users," Hainey said.
The Geosystems Research Institute has led multiple projects that advance the use of uncrewed aircraft systems, or drones, in agriculture. Those efforts include projects to enhance data-driven on-farm decision making through UAS and developing new tools and best practices to detect plant stress using UAS-collected imagery and data.
For more on CropLife America, visit www.croplifeamerica.org.