Fund the state's work in support of the pesticide data program (PDP)

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the Texas Department of Agriculture $502,836 under Cooperative Agreement AM26STPDP000C007 on January 1, 2026, to support the Pesticide Data Program (CFDA 10.163).

Texas Department of Agriculture collects food samples focused on products most frequently consumed by infants and children, ships the samples to assigned laboratories per established schedule, and conducts chemical analyses for pesticide residues including parent compounds and metabolites. The state laboratory reviews residue analysis results through its quality assurance officer and delivers the data to the Pesticide Data Program as an electronic dataset. All work follows standard operating procedures available on the PDP website. The Environmental Protection Agency uses the resulting data to prepare dietary risk assessments for pesticides; the Food and Drug Administration uses it for routine monitoring to inform regulatory enforcement of pesticide residue limits in food; the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service may use the data in trade negotiations; and American consumers access it to inform food purchasing decisions.

The period of performance runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Work is performed in Texas.

The state will collect food samples in their state and ship the samples to the assigned laboratories per the established schedule. The foods, which focus on those most frequently consumed by infants and children, are specified in the current PDP project plan that is posted on the PDP website. The state laboratory will perform chemical analyses on the assigned samples for pesticide residues, including parent compounds and metabolites. The results of the residue analysis will be reviewed by the state quality assurance officer and sent to PDP as an electronic dataset. All work will be conducted according to standard operating procedures that are available on the PDP website. The deliverable of the sampling operation is to provide the requested samples to the laboratories, and the deliverable of the laboratory is to provide the pesticide residue data to PDP. The intended beneficiaries include the environmental protection agency, who uses the data to prepare dietary risk assessments for pesticides; the food and drug administration who uses the routine monitoring data from PDP to inform their regulatory enforcement of established limits of pesticide residues in food; the USDA foreign agricultural service who may use the data in trade negotiations; and american consumers who use the data to help ensure their confidence in the food they purchase for their families.