As agriculture faces evolving expectations from both retailers and the environment, growers are increasingly looking for ways to balance productivity with responsible stewardship. In a recent webinar, the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) and Bee Better Certified explored how Integrated Pest Management (IPM) serves as a bridge between worker well-being, pollinator health, and sustainable farming.
Why Pollinators Matter
Pollinators do far more than support beautiful landscapes; they are vital biological workers. They are responsible for one in every three bites of food we eat and facilitate the reproduction of approximately 90% of all flowering plants. Beyond bees, this diverse group includes wasps, bats, moths and even beetles, all of which contribute to a resilient agricultural system.
Comparing Approaches: EFI Certification and Bee Better Certified
While both organizations champion IPM/IPPM practices, they offer distinct frameworks that can be highly complementary for growers:
- EFI Certification: EFI places a primary focus on social responsibility. Their certification audit covers social standards and the culture of food safety, with an optional, cost-effective add-on for IPM and pollinator health. EFI’s approach emphasizes worker involvement, training and the creation of worker-manager collaboration teams to build a culture of continuous improvement.
- Bee Better Certified: This program is deeply rooted in science and agronomy, focusing on the biodiversity of the farming environment. Their standard is built on three pillars: habitat creation, IPPM and the protection of native populations.
Key Pillars for Implementation
Whether you are pursuing certification or simply looking to improve your operations, the webinar highlighted several actionable strategies:
- Formal IPM Planning: Both programs require growers to move away from purely reactive measures. This includes preventative practices, consistent scouting/monitoring and utilizing tools like the Bee Precaution Tool (for pollinators) or pesticide risk tools (for worker safety) to minimize the use of high-risk chemical inputs.
- Habitat Restoration: A healthy ecosystem requires space to thrive. EFI encourages dedicating 3% of productive acreage to perennial and native habitat, while Bee Better Certified requires a minimum of 5%, with specific requirements for native plant diversity and seasonal bloom cycles to ensure year-round forage.
- Worker Protection: A core component of the EFI standard is ensuring that pesticide applications are handled safely, with strict adherence to re-entry intervals, respiratory protection, and the elimination of highly hazardous substances without proper justification.
If you’re interested in elevating your farm’s IPM/IPPM profile, connect with gro.doofelbatiuqe@ofni or gro.secrex@llewen.noremac.
To learn more about how to certify your operations into alignment with EFI’s comprehensive standards, watch the full webinar, explore EFI’s resources and contact us.