Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
The Business Council for Agrotechnology

April 17, 2026

CPDA's Biggest Event is Almost Here

CPDA’s Adjuvants, Inerts & Crop Protection Conference (AICP) is our largest conference of the year. With more than 100 companies and nearly 300 attendees, we are on track to exceed last year’s event.

The conference brings together CPDA member companies and others across the crop protection value chain to focus on the policy, regulatory, and business issues shaping the sector. CPDA’s work in Washington remains focused on reducing regulatory delays, improving the predictability of EPA decisions, and ensuring products can move through the system and reach the field.

AICP is also an opportunity to connect with customers, partners, and decision-makers across the value chain.

If you have not yet registered, there is still time. We look forward to seeing many of you in Austin, TX April 27–30.

Biopesticides: Working Group & Panel

CPDA will launch its Biopesticide Working Group at AICP on Tuesday, April 28 at 9:00 AM, followed by a dedicated panel on Wednesday.

The discussion will focus on grower attitudes and market acceptance, how these products are being used in the field, and considerations for integrating them into existing crop protection programs. It will also address EPA regulatory pathways and how biopesticides interact with adjuvants and other formulation technologies.

Members interested in this work are encouraged to participate.

EPA Stakeholder Quarterly Meeting

CPDA, as part of the PRIA Coalition, will participate in the next EPA stakeholder quarterly meeting at EPA headquarters on Monday, April 20 from 9:30–11:00 AM, with a virtual option available for CPDA members.

The meeting provides an opportunity to hear directly from EPA Office of Pesticide Programs leadership, including Ed Messina, on backlog progress, PRIA and non-PRIA actions, and program priorities.

Members who would like to participate virtually should have received a calendar invitation. If not, please contact Terry Kippley.

In the News: CPDA on EPA Budget and Product Approvals

CPDA was featured in CropLife coverage examining the potential impact of proposed EPA budget reductions on pesticide approvals.

The article highlights concerns across the sector that significant cuts would slow product reviews and extend already stretched timelines. CPDA President & CEO Terry Kippley underscored that EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs is already operating under resource constraints and that further reductions would make it more difficult to deliver timely, science-based decisions.



The piece reinforces a point CPDA has been consistently raising. Predictable timelines and adequate resources are essential to ensuring products can move through the regulatory system and reach the field.

In the News: Analyzing Adjuvant Use in the ESA Era

As Endangered Species Act requirements reshape crop protection labels, specialty crop growers are facing tighter expectations around drift reduction, runoff management, buffers, and application timing. In this new Growing Produce article, CPDA's ESA Mitigation Committee Co-Chair and Wilbur-Ellis' Senior Branded Technologies Adjuvant Portfolio Manager Connor Ferguson explains how the right adjuvant strategy can help growers meet evolving compliance demands while maintaining herbicide performance, canopy coverage, and on-farm efficiency.

Ferguson also underscores the importance of choosing verified products as growers adapt their spray programs for the ESA era. The article highlights how drift reduction adjuvants and other performance-enhancing technologies can support stewardship, resistance management, and application precision — and why CPDA’s Adjuvant Certification Program gives growers greater confidence in what they are buying. Read the full article to learn how certified adjuvants can help growers stay compliant without compromising results.

Trade: Section 301 Comments Submitted

CPDA submitted comments to USTR on Section 301 focused on protecting U.S.-based formulation capacity and addressing the impact of state-supported excess production on the crop protection supply chain. The comments build on ongoing engagement with the Administration and emphasize the importance of maintaining effective tariff structures to support domestic formulation, ensure supply chain resilience, and preserve access to crop protection tools.



The comments were developed in coordination with CPDA’s Trade Committee leadership, reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee, and supported by the Board. The submission reflects broad support across CPDA membership.

CPDA White House meeting representatives: Randy Canady, CEO, Atticus; Casey McDaniel, VP, Nutrien; Terry Kippley, CEO, CPDA; Douglas "Dak" Kaye, CEO, AMVAC; Shannon Russell, EVP, Atticus; Scott Kuschmider, VP GR, Atticus (not shown: Brad Swillen, Director, Ethox Chemicals; Renee Munasifi, Senior Director, Nutrien; Andrew Walmsley, VP GR, CPDA.)

Supply Chain Coalition Engagement

CPDA joined a broad coalition letter to appropriators regarding review of the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, emphasizing the importance of a competitive and reliable freight rail system to support the agricultural supply chain.

Incoming CPDA Chairman Lindner Speaks at ICIS World Surfactants Conference in May

CPDA is proud to be a media partner for the 16th ICIS World Surfactants Conference, returning to Jersey City from May 6-7, 2026.

If your business touches surfactants in agriculture, crop protection, or formulation, this is the event to be at. Step away from day-to-day operations and connect with senior leaders, uncover new opportunities, and gain insights that drive growth.

Don’t miss the CPDA-led session on emerging opportunities in agricultural surfactants with our incoming Chair, Greg Lindner, along with other key industry presentations.



Watch the promotional video to see why this is the must-attend surfactants event of the year.

Upcoming Industry Events

Until next time….