Draft Strategy to Protect Endangered Species From Fungicides

May 12, 2026

The draft Strategy identifies practical, science-based protections that fungicide users can adopt to safeguard more than 1,000 federally endangered and threatened species, while preserving the flexibility states, growers, and applicators need to keep American agriculture strong. It reflects EPA's commitment to meeting its obligations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) through a more efficient, transparent, and protective approach to pesticide registration.

Protecting American families is a top priority for EPA. Every approved pesticide must undergo gold-standard scientific safety evaluations and pose no health risks of concern when used as directed. EPA will continue to review the latest available science to ensure its regulatory decisions are rooted in the most robust universe of data possible.

American farmers are the lifeblood of our economy and our nation's food supply. They need a diverse toolbox of innovative agricultural technologies to manage crop disease, prevent resistance, and produce the affordable, nutritious food that feeds our country. The draft Fungicide Strategy is designed to ensure those innovative tools remain available and that they are used in ways that protect the environment and endangered species.

Consistent with the Trump Administration's commitment to radical transparency, EPA is opening this draft Strategy to a 60-day public comment period and will host a public webinar to walk stakeholders through the proposal and take questions. EPA wants to hear from farmers, applicators, scientists, conservation groups, state partners, Tribal partners, and members of the public before any decisions are finalized.

What the Draft Strategy Does

Uses a three-step framework to (1) identify potential population-level impacts to listed species, (2) identify mitigation measures, and (3) determine where those mitigations should apply.
Informs EPA's registration and registration review decisions for conventional agricultural fungicides in the lower 48 states, where approximately 41 million acres are treated annually.
Considers where listed species live, what they need (such as food sources or pollinators), where fungicides may move in the environment, and potential effects on non-target species.
Guides mitigations that EPA will propose in future regulatory actions, with public input on each action before any decision is finalized. Does not itself impose requirements.

Source : umass.edu

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?