For Immediate Release
11/17/2025
Contact
Craig Cassidy, Information Officer
(916) 445-5815 | Craig.Cassidy@cdpr.ca.gov

DPR Seeks Applicants for Sustainable Pest Management Advisory Committee

What you need to know: DPR is opening nominations for a newly created Sustainable Pest Management Advisory Committee to inform California’s transition to sustainable pest management. Nominations are open through Dec. 19, 2025.

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is now accepting applications for a 3-year Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Advisory Committee to support DPR’s mission to foster SPM statewide, including advancing the goals and commitments outlined in the department’s 2024-2028 Strategic Plan (en español).

“This committee is an opportunity for DPR to collect practical input and on-the-ground experience to support the adoption of SPM,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. “To foster systemwide change, we need broad input from those interested in and impacted by pest management and collective, coordinated actions that support our health, our communities, our ecosystem, our food supply and our economic vitality.”

The SPM Advisory Committee will include up to 15 people with experience in environmental science, agricultural, urban and natural space Integrated Pest Management (IPM), pesticide alternatives, consumer food certification, corporate social responsibility, food supply chains, public health and community advocacy. At least two seats will be reserved for representatives from the California Department of Food and Agriculture and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The SPM Committee will convene for a three-year period to provide an avenue for discussion and public input to inform DPR actions, including:

  • Tracking progress and implementation of SPM statewide
  • Developing SPM pilot projects
  • Advancing procurement and supply chain opportunities
  • Reviewing urban pesticide use data
  • Identification and implementation of SPM Continuing Education (CE) opportunities
  • Promotion, development, and adoption of innovative pest management alternatives

SPM is defined as a holistic, whole-system approach to pest management. It builds on the long-standing practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with consideration of broader human health and social equity, environmental protection and economic vitality. The formation of the SPM Advisory Committee was a recommendation included in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California, which was developed and released by a cross-sector workgroup in January 2023 to provide recommendations to the state for a systemwide transition to more sustainable pest management.

For more information on the goals and structure of the committee, view the SPM Committee Charter (en español).

Applications for the SPM Advisory Committee must be submitted by December 19, 2025. Full application instructions are available on the SPM Advisory Committee webpage.