Latest news with #IntegratedPestManagement
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab seeks tax relief for cotton industry
LAHORE: Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani disclosed on Wednesday that talks are underway with the federal government and the prime minister to remove income and sales tax from the cotton industry. He hoped that these taxes will be removed in the 2025-26 budget with the aim to make cotton farming more profitable for growers. The Minister was addressing a delegation of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association which called on him at the Agriculture House. Sharing the strategy adopted by the Punjab government this year to enhance sowing of cotton, the Minister informed the delegation that one million acres of land previously used for rice have been shifted to cotton this year. The Minister also threw light on Cotton Campaign 2025–26, early sowing, early operation of ginning factories, cotton pricing, taxation on local cotton, and the enforcement of the Cotton Control Act. During the meeting, the Cotton Ginners Association shared the challenges currently facing the industry. Member of Provincial Assembly Rana Saleem and Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Kirmani said that cotton is Pakistan's main cash crop. Following the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Agriculture Department has introduced effective measures across the province, especially in South Punjab, to revive and stabilize cotton production. As a result, cotton cultivation has improved significantly, and the area under cultivation has increased. He declared this year as the 'year of cotton revival.' To promote cotton farming, the Agriculture Department launched a strong awareness campaign. Between February 15 and March 31, an ambitious goal of sowing cotton on one million acres was set and successfully achieved - a milestone not reached in the last 10 years. So far, cotton has been cultivated on 3.3 million out of the targeted 3.5 million acres, and efforts continue to reach four million acres. The department conducts third-party verification to ensure transparency in meeting targets. The Minister urged ginners to adopt modern technology, noting that many factories still use outdated methods that reduce the international demand for Pakistani cotton. He stressed the need to upgrade ginning processes and assured full government support for introducing new technology in the sector. Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that this year, demonstration plots were established in South Punjab where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques were fully implemented. He also noted that the private sector took responsibility for supporting cotton farming at the tehsil level, setting a positive example. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Agriland
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Less pesticides won't make food production more sustainable
Some weeks ago, the UK launched its Pesticides National Action Plan (NAP) 2025; its objective is to reduce pesticide usage for environmental and human health reasons. While it recognises that farmers need the tools to grow food and the merits of Integrated Pest Management – or Integrated Crop Management (ICM) – it is missing some critical points. That's according to independent agronomist and deputy managing director of the farmer-owned cooperative, Scottish Agronomy, Greg Dawson. 'If we focus too narrowly on chemical reduction targets without considering their real-world implications, policy makers may unintentionally make growing food in the UK less sustainable – practically, economically, and environmentally,' Dawson said. The agronomist added that farmers have generally become hardened to the fact that the toolbox is being repeatedly squeezed, and each new policy and plan will take away another input they rely on to produce food at scale. But if it goes too far, it will make primary production in the UK unviable or unattractive to be in, he explained. 'We saw in Denmark how the introduction of a pesticide tax, in addition to an already stringent regulatory process, disincentivised the use of a specific multi-site fungicide for the control of potato blight,' he continued. 'Strains emerged that were more aggressive and adapted to overcome plant resistance and compromised the activity of some of the remaining fungicides. 'In some cases, crops failed to achieve a marketable yield which is the worst case for environmental and economic sustainability. 'These strains have now spread throughout the northern European potato-producing area placing even more pressure on ICM plans,' he added. In the UK, the reorganisation of Plant Protection Product regulations post-Brexit resulted in the removal of the only options for grass weed control in winter oats, a crop that has a great health story for Scotland, according to the agronomist. 'A swathe of our members stopped growing them in response,' he said. The Scottish Agronomy representative went on to point out that the UK is doing an amazing job, where the effective use of agrochemicals is concerned. Between 1990 and 2020, synthetic inputs in the UK have reduced by 60%, while they have increased by 90% globally. 'No responsible producer would want to see unfettered use of synthetic inputs. But they have been a strong part of the UK's food narrative since the much lauded post-Second World War Green Revolution,' Dawson continued. '…[T]he innovations in plant breeding and the introduction of chemical fertilisers and pesticides which increased yields, feeding a growing population, improving standards of living and suppressing food prices. 'They still have an essential place today.' Dawson has pointed to a conundrum that now confronts arable farming in the UK. While the aforementioned NAP recognises the importance of ICM (referred to as IPM), it fails to appreciate that it is a strategic approach with multiple tools that rely on each other. 'The clue is in the word 'integrated'. Without, or with limited, chemistry, one of the legs of the stool has gone,' he explained. 'Crop rotation, variety choice, and drilling dates are key components of ICM but their effectiveness to reduce weed, pest, and disease pressure is supported and protected by the use of plant protection products, and critically, multiple modes of action. 'Ongoing withdrawals and regulatory constraints are eroding our ability to fully utilise one important suite of tools effectively, and that has consequences for the others too.'
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sysco 2024 Sustainability Report: Responsibly Managing Pests
NORTHAMPTON, MA / / April 16, 2025 / Originally published in Sysco's 2024 Sustainability Report Now in its 20th year, Sysco's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program encourages responsible growing practices. This includes using pesticide and nutrient inputs responsibly, conserving energy and water, and minimizing waste. It applies to Sysco Brand canned and frozen foods, such as frozen fruits, vegetables and potatoes. As of FY2024, the program included more than 17,600 growers and 59 suppliers covering more than 1 million acres of field. Overall, growers who applied IPM principles reported avoiding 6.1 million pounds of pesticides throughout the growing season. About Sysco Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 76,000 colleagues, the company operates 340 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 730,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2024 that ended June 29, 2024, the company generated sales of more than $78 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco's 2023 Sustainability Report and 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at For more information, visit or connect with Sysco on Facebook at For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company's Internet home page at which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information. To learn more about Sysco's commitment to sustainability, visit our webpage For full details about Sysco's 2024 Sustainability Report, visit here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Sysco Corporation on Contact Info:Spokesperson: Sysco CorporationWebsite: info@ SOURCE: Sysco Corporation View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
16-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Sysco 2024 Sustainability Report: Responsibly Managing Pests
Originally published in Sysco's 2024 Sustainability Report Now in its 20th year, Sysco's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program encourages responsible growing practices. This includes using pesticide and nutrient inputs responsibly, conserving energy and water, and minimizing waste. It applies to Sysco Brand canned and frozen foods, such as frozen fruits, vegetables and potatoes. As of FY2024, the program included more than 17,600 growers and 59 suppliers covering more than 1 million acres of field. Overall, growers who applied IPM principles reported avoiding 6.1 million pounds of pesticides throughout the growing season. About Sysco Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 76,000 colleagues, the company operates 340 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 730,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2024 that ended June 29, 2024, the company generated sales of more than $78 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco's 2023 Sustainability Report and 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at For more information, visit or connect with Sysco on Facebook at For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company's Internet home page at which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information. To learn more about Sysco's commitment to sustainability, visit our webpage For full details about Sysco's 2024 Sustainability Report, visit here. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Sysco Corporation
Associated Press
25-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
VFLP California's Burns Ranch Achieves Bee Better Certification™ From SCS Global Services
EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 25, 2025 /3BL/ - SCS Global Services, a pioneer in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, today announced that VFLP California achieved Bee Better Certified™ status through SCS' auditing services. The certification verifies the comprehensive pollinator conservation practices implemented at the company's Burns Ranch operation in Stockton, California, which produces premium blueberries for Driscoll's. The Bee Better Certified program is the only third-party certification that specifically focuses on pollinator health and biodiversity conservation on farms. Developed by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation with support from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the program requires growers to dedicate a portion of their land to pollinator habitat and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. 'VFLP California's achievement represents exactly the kind of agricultural leadership we need to protect our vital pollinator populations,' said Alex Judd, Program Manager for Sustainability at SCS Global Services. 'Their comprehensive approach to creating pollinator habitats within a productive blueberry operation demonstrates that economic and ecological goals can be successfully aligned. This certification recognizes their exceptional efforts to implement science-based conservation practices that benefit both their operation and the surrounding ecosystem.' The certification process involved a thorough assessment of Burns Ranch's agricultural practices, including evaluation of dedicated pollinator habitats, integrated pest management strategies, and implementation of buffer zones to protect sensitive ecological areas. By achieving certification, VFLP California has demonstrated its leadership in addressing pollinator decline while maintaining productive agricultural operations for one of the world's leading berry brands. The certification also positions VFLP California to meet major retailers' sustainability requirements. Walmart announced last year that by 2025, 100% of floral and fresh produce sold in its stores will be sourced from suppliers with third-party certifications such as Bee Better Certified™, making this achievement strategically valuable for VFLP's market position as a Driscoll's producer. About SCS Global Services SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development, currently celebrating its 40th year of services. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit
