The IR-4 Project

We have a new video to share! Hear from research collaborators on IR-4's impacts, and join us in looking ahead to the next 60 years of success. Watch it on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eaDbwu2X The new video can also be found on our website's homepage. The first 60 Years of IR-4 video (previously on our homepage) can now be found by selecting “About IR-4” at ir4project.org. Together, these two videos illustrate IR-4’s meaningful 60-year track record of success, and where we’re headed as agriculture evolves. #ir4project

IR-4 partner institution Michigan State University has an open position that we are excited to share. Join IR-4's North Central Region as an Assistant Professor at MSU focused on weed science: The Department of Horticulture in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University invites applications for a full-time 12-month tenure-system Assistant Professor position (with a 50% Research, 40% Extension, and 10% Teaching assignment) to lead an internationally recognized, innovative and competitively funded research and extension program in weed science and ecology to support Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industries. The position start date is anticipated to be August 16, 2025. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing a collaborative research and extension program focused on weed science, management and agroecology. Learn more and apply through the MSU job posting: https://lnkd.in/e2batQmP #careeropportunity #weedscience #msu #ir4project

USDA announced on 10/9 that they have awarded the first $25 million to support specialty crop projects under the new Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative. Six projects have been awarded funding in this round, including IR-4's collaborators at the Minor Use Foundation (congratulations)! IR-4 looks forward to working in partnership with MUF on this important project. Learn more in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) press release: https://lnkd.in/eunxENVX #specialtycrops #asce #usda #ir4project #mrl

The 2025 Food Use Workshop will take place September 9-11 in Denver, Colorado. Research priorities for residue, product performance, and integrated solutions studies for 2026 will be identified during this workshop. A virtual attendance option will be available. Learn more on the event web page (linked below). We hope to see you in Denver (or virtually) next September! https://lnkd.in/dAUZtK7H #IR4FUW

IR-4 Project Headquarters at NC State University is seeking a Research Assistant to join our team. Reporting to the Associate Director for Regulatory Sciences, the IR-4 Project Research Assistant is responsible for maintenance of research data in the IR-4 Project’s custom database to document the progress of research on specialty food crops. Visit our Careers page to learn more or apply: https://lnkd.in/dKd_t6qd

Today we're highlighting two recent publications penned by IR-4 team members from our Western Region, based at University of California, Davis. Congratulations to Fabiola Zuno-Floriano, Alexander McFall, Ph.D., Riza Reyes-Punongbayan and Matt Hengel on your work on either or both of these two articles. Advance through the images to learn more and access each article (they are also linked below): In the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: https://lnkd.in/e8WM56Dc In the Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment: https://lnkd.in/e6W2aTbW Are you an IR-4 team member with a publication you'd like to share? Send it our way: ir-4_project@ncsu.edu #ir4project

In the aftermath of Hurricane #Helene, USDA has deployed staff to assist with response and recovery efforts while also putting contingency plans in place to ensure farmers, foresters and communities are able to get the support they need. https://lnkd.in/eAFwJJJP

Save the date! The 2025 Industry Technology Session will be held virtually on Thursday, February 20. This annual event invites companies to present updates on products already in IR-4 research, as well as new technologies designed to meet the pest management needs of specialty crop producers. We have shifted the Industry Technology Session to occur earlier in the year (February rather than July) to better accommodate stakeholders' busy summer schedules and allow more time before the Project Clearance Request submission deadline. This event is a pre-cursor to the 2025 Food Use Workshop. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dgFtdeij

Our Western North Carolina neighbors have been devastated by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina State University has shared 3 relief funds getting supplies directly to those in need: 1. The NC State Extension Disaster Relief Fund is helping Extension staff on the ground in western North Carolina as they bring resources and supplies to residents: https://lnkd.in/eDqUMYZK 2. The VetMed Disaster Relief Fund helps supply CVM’s mobile unit, which is currently in western North Carolina to help small and large animals needing rescue, medical attention and food: https://lnkd.in/epKASjc7 3. The Student Emergency Fund will be assisting students from western North Carolina with financial needs as they arise: https://lnkd.in/eZPU9WF7 Thank you for pitching in where you can! We are in this together. #helene #helenerelief #helenestrong

Growing Produce is spreading the word about IR-4 researcher Matthew Bertucci's work at University of Arkansas, which is generating new weed control possibilities for blackberry growers in the Southern Region. Learn more about this exciting development: https://lnkd.in/d6vSuXdW #ir4project