Minor Use Foundation

AOAC INTERNATIONAL and the Minor Use Foundation (MUF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating minor use crop protection solutions, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize strategic collaboration in areas of shared interest. Read full press release. https://minorusefoundation.org/aoac-muf-collaboration-pesticide-analysis/

𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 — 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟳
On December 19, 2025, China submitted a notification to the World Trade Organization establishing 598 new maximum residue limits (MRLs) for 126 pesticides in foods.

The notification includes MRLs for numerous , including:
-Fruits: lychee, pomelo, grape, jujube, kumquat
-Vegetables: cowpea, taro, Chinese yam, garlic scape, asparagus, Chinese chives
-Nuts: walnut, peanut
-Herbs and medicinal crops: American ginseng, honeysuckle flower, chrysanthemum, notoginseng

Why this matters:
China is a major import market for specialty crops, particularly from Southeast Asia. Changes to MRL standards will affect whether crops can legally enter the market.
The notification, submitted under WTO reference G/SPS/N/CHN/1356, has not announced an implementation date. However, stakeholders can submit comments to China's SPS National Notification and Enquiry Center ([email protected]) until February 17, 2026.

Source:

China: China Notifies Additional Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods to the WTO On December 19, 2025, China submitted a notification to the WTO under reference number G/SPS/N/CHN/1356. The standard establishes 598 maximum residue limits for...

𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗!! 📢 The International Plant Protection Convention - IPPC Secretariat is inviting nominations for the Expert Working Group on Rhizoctonia theobromae under the POARS initiative.

Who can nominate:
-NPPOs, RPPOs, research centres, international organizations​

📅 Revised deadline: 31 January 2026, 23:59 (CET)

Nominations must be submitted by the IPPC Official Contact Point or RPPO contact point.

Learn more & access the call:
https://www.ippc.int/fr/calls/call-for-experts-for-the-expert-working-group-on-rhizoctonia-theobromae/

CABI develops practical, science-based tools that help farmers and advisors make better decisions. Through the programme and the CABI Digital Library, users can quickly find information on pests, diseases and safer management options.

What you can access through resources:
-PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank with factsheets, guides and videos on crop health, pest identification and management, including country-specific content.

-Mobile and web tools that give field advisors and farmers quick access to practical recommendations, even with limited connectivity.

-The CABI BioProtection Portal and other digital advisory tools that highlight registered biocontrol and biopesticide options.

🔗 Explore CABI plant health tools and resources: https://www.cabi.org/plantwiseplus/resources-for-users/

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 — 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀
The sector has grown significantly, with markets expanding from $4.64 billion in 2024 to $4.94 billion in 2025. Despite this growth, smallholder producers still face critical barriers:

-Pest management challenges — Limited access to registered crop protection tools for minor crops like dragon fruit, lychee, and longan
-Phytosanitary compliance — Export rejections due to residue violations create uncertainty and economic losses for growers.
-Post-harvest losses — Cold-chain gaps and high perishability reducing quality and market access
-Market access barriers — Seasonal production, weather shocks, and inconsistent quality standards limiting trade opportunities

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 👇

Through the Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative-supported , the is working with experts across 11 countries to address these challenges — from pest management data generation to regulatory harmonization.

Sources:
Tropical Fruits Market 2025: https://www.researchandmarkets.com/report/tropical-fruit-market
MUF Tropical Fruits Liaison: https://minorusefoundation.org/tropical-fruits-liaison/

Biopesticides: A Growing Solution for Specialty Crop Growers Worldwide
Across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, farmers are increasingly turning to as part of their strategies.

Recent market data shows significant momentum:
-Asia-Pacific market: $1.12 billion (2025) → $1.8 billion (2030)
-South America market: $493 million (2025) → $814 million (2030)

What's driving this shift?
Government support programs are enabling the environment for biopesticide growth. China's $320 million green agriculture initiative is promoting bio-based solutions. Brazil provides state subsidies for 300 mini biofactories to bring production closer to farming regions. Chile spends $45 per hectare on biologicals to meet strict export residue requirements.

Why biopesticides matter for ?
Derived from natural materials like plants, bacteria, and fungi, biopesticides offer distinct advantages: safer residue profiles for export markets, target-specific pest control that preserves beneficial insects, and shorter pre-harvest intervals for high-value crops.

For specialty crop growers with limited chemical pesticide options, biopesticides represent valuable tools for sustainable crop protection.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

Sources:
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/asia-pacific-biopesticides-market-industry
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/south-america-biopesticides-market

India's biopesticide market is growing at 11.7% annually (2022-2028 projection) — but farmer adoption remains the real challenge. A recent case study on India's FARM Project (Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management) reveals promising progress: 970 biopesticide registrations covering 18 products, compared to 293 conventional pesticides.

Yet despite this growth, most are still used in the health sector (like mosquito control for vector-borne diseases) rather than in crop production. Adoption among smallholder farmers remains limited.

The gap?
-Farmer awareness and confidence in biopesticide efficacy
-Limited field demonstrations showing real-world results
-Commercial viability concerns for manufacturers

The UNEP-led FARM initiative (funded by GEF) is tackling this by training farmers through hands-on demonstrations and knowledge-sharing, aiming to empower up to 1 million farmers to transition toward safer, more by the end of 2026.

This mirrors challenges we see globally in specialty crop protection: having the tools registered is only half the battle. Getting them into farmers' hands — with the right training and support — is what drives real change.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲?

Read more: https://news.fundsforngos.org/2026/01/16/biopesticides-at-scale-lessons-from-indias-farm-project/

Biopesticides at Scale: Lessons from India’s FARM Project - fundsforNGOs News This case study examines how farmer training under India’s Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) project is enabling a large-scale transition toward safer and more sustainable agricultural practices. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the Global E...

The Minor Use Foundation was featured in ACS Publications on Pesticide Policy in a peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: "Bridging the Divide: U.S. Leadership in Pesticide Policy for Global Food Security and Trade."

The 2025 American Chemical Society’s Agrochemicals (AGRO) Division Fall meeting hosted the symposium “Pesticide Regulation, Global Trade: U.S. Leadership in Food Security”. This Viewpoint synthesizes insights from the policy session, highlighting the U.S.’s central role in ensuring a safe, abundant global food supply and balancing production with environmental protection while promoting harmonized international pesticide residue standards and improved trade data access. William Barney, Study Director at Minor Use Foundation, presented on crop grouping systems and specialty crop exports—demonstrating how science-based approaches support global .

Key Impact:
saves an estimated $2.8 million and accelerates access to tools by using representative crop studies to establish MRLs for entire crop groups rather than individual commodities.

This recognition highlights our foundation's role in advancing international agricultural trade and supporting specialty crop growers worldwide.

Read the full article: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c15999

AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC), a globally recognized leader in analytical science and method validation, and the Minor Use Foundation (MUF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize strategic collaboration in areas of shared interest.

Under the agreement, AOAC and MUF will work together on priority-setting initiatives and jointly identify projects that advance high-quality data generation and regulatory compliance. The partnership will also emphasize capacity-building through targeted training programs, including Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), advanced chromatographic techniques, and other essential scientific and analytical competencies.

A primary focus of the collaboration will be the development and validation of harmonized analytical methods for multi-residue pesticide analysis, particularly for spices and other priority commodities. As part of this effort, the organizations will jointly identify qualified laboratories and coordinate related analytical activities.

AOAC Southeast Asia Section

Rachel Tarkington, a recent NC State University graduate in Crop and Soil Science: Crop Biotechnology, completed her with us last year working on critical projects including pesticide analysis, integrated pest management research, global MRL policy frameworks, and trade data analysis.

We are happy to hear the feedback from Rachel on her experience working with our team. We wish her the best for her new role with the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center as a Field Crops Agent.

Read her full reflection: https://minorusefoundation.org/internship-reflection-rachel-tarkington/