The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced July 1 it is seeking public input on a national innovation challenge offering up to $30 million in prize funding to develop safer, science-based alternatives to chemical crop desiccation, a practice that uses pesticides to dry crops before harvest.

The initiative is intended to help farmers reduce the use of conventional chemicals while maintaining efficient harvests, protecting workers and improving food safety. EPA said in a news release the effort will support practical, cost-effective, science-based solutions that strengthen American agriculture while protecting human health and the environment.

"This challenge backs our farmers, protects the health of American families, and helps modernize our farms. By listening to growers, researchers, and communities, we can cut exposure risks and make America's food supply stronger and more resilient," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in the release.

Desiccants are pesticides applied during the final weeks before harvest to quickly dry crops, promote even ripening and make harvesting faster and easier. EPA said they are commonly used on small grains, pulses such as beans and peas, oilseeds, potatoes and cotton.

While the products serve an important role in modern agriculture, the agency said their use close to harvest can leave pesticide residue on food and may pose health risks for workers who apply them.

EPA said reducing reliance on conventional chemical desiccants would benefit both farmers and consumers by providing new tools that can lower production costs, reduce worker exposure and result in food grown with fewer conventional pesticides.

The initiative also supports the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again agenda by promoting resilient, efficient and sustainable farming systems, according to the agency. EPA said it is acting under its legal authority to regulate pesticides and protect human health and the environment by investing in practical solutions for farmers.

Many of the alternatives EPA hopes to encourage align with regenerative agriculture practices that improve soil health, water quality and crop resilience. The agency said Integrated Pest Management practices, including improved crop timing, natural drying methods and precision agriculture technologies, can reduce pesticide use while maintaining harvest efficiency and lowering costs.

The agency released a Request for Information on Wednesday to help shape the challenge's design, including its scope, eligibility requirements, judging criteria and methods for testing new technologies in the field.

EPA said it is particularly interested in cost-effective approaches that maintain or improve harvest readiness, crop quality and operational efficiency across multiple crop systems, including small grains, pulses, oilseeds, potatoes and cotton.

Potential alternatives identified by the agency include improved agronomic practices and crop scheduling, mechanical or physical drying methods, biological or lower-risk inputs, precision agriculture technologies and post-harvest conditioning innovations.

The agency is seeking feedback from growers, producer organizations, equipment manufacturers, researchers, public health experts, environmental organizations, Tribes and territories, state and local agencies and members of the public.

EPA also is requesting information on barriers to adoption, research gaps, equipment needs, supply chain considerations and performance standards for potential alternatives. The agency is also seeking recommendations on the challenge's design, including prize structure, phased development approaches and eligible uses of prize funding.

The agency encouraged respondents to submit concise comments that include contact information, organizational background and relevant experience.

Submission instructions and additional information will be available under docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-3862 at www.regulations.gov once the Request for Information is posted. EPA also has released a pre-publication version of the Request for Information.