EPA Launches $30M Farmer Challenge for Safer Crops

M.A. Dworkin

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially launched a $30 million national innovation Challenge designed to help farmers adopt safer agricultural practices by finding alternatives to conventional chemical crop desiccation. The agenda is aimed at modernizing agriculture, promoting regenerative farming, and reducing cumulative chemical exposure in the U.S. food supply. 

Crop desiccation is the widespread practice of spraying heavy pesticides onto crops in the final days before harvest to dry them out quickly, ensuring they ripen evenly and make mechanical harvesting faster.

A Request for Information (RFI), which was issued on July 1, 2026, will shape the design of the challenge - including the scope, who can take part, how entries will be judged, and how new ideas will be tested in the field. EPA is particularly interested in cost-effective solutions that maintain or improve harvest readiness, crop quality, and operational efficiency across a range of crop systems, including small grains, pulses, oilseeds, potatoes, and cotton. 

Possible alternatives include:

• Improved agronomic practices and crop scheduling

• Mechanical or physical drying methods

• Biological or lower-risk inputs

• Precision agriculture technologies

• Post-harvest conditioning innovations

EPA is seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders, including growers, producer organizations, equipment manufacturers, researchers, public health experts, environmental organizations, Tribes and Territories, State and local agencies, and any interested member of the public. 

“American farmers feed our families, and they deserve the best tools to do that job safely,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “This challenge backs our farmers, protects the health of American families, and helps modernize our farms. By listening to growers, researchers, and communities, we can cut exposure risks and make America’s food supply stronger and more resilient.”

EPA encourages concise responses that include contact information, organization background, and relevant experience. Instructions for submission and additional details can be found under docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-3862 at www.regulations.gov once it is posted.