The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a national innovation challenge offering up to $30 million in prize funding to encourage alternatives to chemical crop desiccation before harvest.
The agency is seeking practical, cost-effective approaches that reduce reliance on conventional pesticides while supporting crop production. EPA said the initiative is intended to help farmers adopt new tools that can lower production costs and reduce pesticide use while protecting human health and the environment. The challenge will encourage technologies and management practices, including Integrated Pest Management, crop timing, natural drying methods and precision agriculture.
According to EPA, the effort aligns with the Trump administration’s goals of supporting agricultural innovation while maintaining farm productivity and environmental protection.
