[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: IPM etc certification



eskinner@zoo.uvm.edu (Elizabeth A. Skinner) wrote:
>I would be interested to know of any current programs or studies on
>consumer preferences and willingness to pay for reduced 
>input/IPM/transitional/ecofriendly (BUT NON ORGANIC) certified and/or 
>labelled ag products.
>
>I would love to hear current thought on value to environment, producers, 
>and consumers of reduced input but non-organic certification programs
>and how these products are positioned with organic products.
>
>Thank you very much.
>
>Elizabeth Skinner
>Community Development and Applied Economics
>University of Vermont
>eskinner@zoo.uvm.edu
>802/656-1018
>
The USDA integrated pest management initiative would have the most 
current information on any studies pertaining to customer prefrences.  In 
my personal research, concentrating on residential uses of IPM, I have 
found a lack of intrest from the government and contractors.  Included in 
Clinton's 'Bridge to the 21st century' is a goal to have 75% of 
agricultural land under some sort of IPM program by the year 2000.  
USDA's IPM initiative has had a substantial increase in its budget for 
1997.  A lot of this money is being put into R&D, encouraging states, 
producers, and scientists to develop products (biological ect...) that 
would make IPM programs efficient and thus more agreeable to the 
producer/consumer.  I could go into great depth about this but, alas, I 
am a very boring writer - check out these sites:

www.reeusda.gov/agsys/ipm/program.htm
www.usda.gov/search/index.htm

Greg Ehrenberg
Bahia, Inc.
Atlanta, GA
bahiainc@worldnet.att.net