Highlights from RISE, Croplife America's regulatory conference

RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) along with CropLife America welcomed more than 400 leaders from the pesticide industry this week to discuss innovation, sustainability and the role of regulation at the 2019 CropLife America and RISE Regulatory Conference.

This year's conference programming featured experts addressing issues that ranged from the importance of risk-based regulation to pollinator health to the importance of communicating science in an approachable way to consumers and allies.

"Once again at this year's conference, we've seen strong corporate and academic commitment to developing solutions to pest challenges here in the U.S. and around the world," said Aaron Hobbs, president of RISE. "The full stakeholder chain, including regulators, is dedicated to developing the most effective and precise products possible through cutting-edge science. An efficient and transparent regulatory process ensures we can continue to advance specialty pesticide products that protect our homes, our places of work and all the public spaces we enjoy."

"Each year, we have the opportunity to hear from the scientists who drive agricultural innovation. These innovations will help us enhance food safety, increase productivity and sustainability and protect human health," said Chris Novak, president and CEO of CropLife America.

"By providing a forum that allows scientists and regulators to understand the benefits of these innovations, we are hopeful that we can maintain an efficient regulatory process that strengthens consumer confidence in our pesticide products."

Since 2009, the Regulatory Conference has provided a forum to discuss the evolving science and regulation behind crop protection and specialty pesticide products. Each year, interactive sessions encourage open discussion among industry, federal regulators and other stakeholders about the issues facing the crop protection and specialty pesticide industries. The Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology, the premier advocate for agricultural adjuvant and inert ingredient suppliers, joined the conference this year as a co-host.