The work of the Minor Use Foundation can be complex to communicate. Because storytelling can make complex issues – like science, pesticides, capacity-building, and MRLs – relatable and personal, we’ve worked to develop stories to share how our work is having a positive impact on growers of nutritious fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices.
Our first in the series focuses on a mango project started in 2012 in Kenya that ultimately resulted in local registration and MRLs for sulfoxaflor on mangos.
Through interviewing farmers, collaborators and stakeholders in the project, we learned that the project not only helped mango growers increase yields, improve fruit quality and raise returns on farmer investments, but also had a lasting impact on Kenya’s agricultural support infrastructure.
In the second installment of our Impact Stories series, we take a look at a project started in 2012 in Colombia that resulted in national registration and international MRLs for spinetoram on avocados.
In Colombia, avocado fruit is an important crop for small growers because of its export potential. Damaged avocados, typically used for guacamole production by domestic companies, fetch a price of 1.000 pesos. Compare that to 4.000 to 5.000 pesos for pristine avocados that can be exported. In terms of U.S. dollars, that’s 25 cents versus US$1 to US$1.50. Read the economic impact report here.
Before spinetoram was available as a registered product, fruit damage from thrips was around 25%. Being able to effectively use spinetoram resulted in a reduction in damage from thrips to 5% and farmers increased their production by 20%.
The data generated in this project was used to register the product in 70 countries – opening markets and opportunities for smallholder avocado farmers.
Our third Impact Story involves a project in Thailand that led to the creation of the Minor Use Foundation.
In 2012, a team comprised of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), and IR-4 began an initiative to support minor crop growers in Thailand.
The project resulted in revenue increases for mango farmers in ASEAN countries as farmers have access to advanced crop protection technologies that are accepted under trade regulations in regional countries and around the world.