Impact: Tools for Avocado Producers in Colombia
Learn how the Minor Use Foundation project in Colombia helped avocado producers increase yields by 20%, open valuable export markets and increase returns for farmers.
Helping Farmers Navigate MRL Standards
Maximizing Food Chain Access for Fruits and Vegetables
The global market for produce has changed expectations for consumers and expanded possibilities for farmers. Consumers expect a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to be readily available, high quality and affordable all year round. This opens opportunities for farmers to sell to more markets and increase their profitability.
To supply this global market, farmers must navigate a complex set of standards, including Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), Import Tolerances (ITs) and food-chain-specific requirements. Corteva Agriscience is committed to delivering farmers transparent, easy-to-understand information about residue calculations for our crop protection product portfolio. When farmers have the best information to make crop protection decisions, more beautiful, tasty, nutritious fruits and vegetables can make it into the market — and onto our plates.
Understanding MRLs and ITs
MRL stands for Maximum Residue Level. An MRL is the highest concentration of crop protection product residue legally allowed for domestic and internationally traded food products. The purpose of an MRL isn’t to establish the safety or toxicity of a particular crop protection product. Instead, MRLs are a way to monitor whether a crop protection product was used properly, according to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). For example, if a product was used at recommended rates, the recommended number of times and at the correct pre-harvest interval, any detectable residue will not exceed the MRL. Regulatory authorities selectively test imported and domestic crops to ensure MRLs are not exceeded.
IT stands for Import Tolerance. While MRLs apply to domestic and exported crops, IT is a type of MRL set by the importing country or region. An IT is the amount of crop protection product residue permitted in or on a commodity imported after it was produced in another country. ITs may be used for crop protection products that are not currently approved in the importing country, or if the importing country has a different MRL standard than what the crop is likely to have.
MRLs and ITs are trade standards established and monitored by regulatory authorities. Food chain customers may use these standards as a guide for accepting produce, but they are also setting secondary restrictions that are stricter than their local MRL and IT levels. Some retailers, for example, may set a secondary limit at 30% of the regulated MRL for a particular crop protection product.
Supporting Crop Marketability Beyond MRLs
As the makers of crop inputs, Corteva Agriscience is part of the food chain, helping farmers grow fruits and vegetables that are beautiful, tasty, nutritious and marketable. When Corteva develops crop protection products, MRLs and ITs are not afterthoughts — they are integral to how our products are designed, and help determine which ones earn a place in our pipeline.
Our regulatory teams analyze trends in trade and marketing so that farmers choosing Corteva crop protection products — and the food chain partners they market to — can feel confident in meeting MRL and IT requirements. The Corteva Food Chain CoNNEXT service supports farmers and food chain partners in maintaining the freedom to trade and market crops, while meeting consumer and regulatory demands.
CoNNEXT uses predictive modeling and residue trials to obtain data for meeting residue requirements. Findings are shared through communication materials advising farmers on applying crop protection products in order to respect MRL/IT requirements in importing countries. CoNNEXT also provides guidance for farmers to achieve residues below 0.01 mg/kg. This helps farmers market their products in countries that don’t have a particular MRL established and it can facilitate their access to food chain customers with below-regulation restrictions, such as specialty retailers and food companies.
Supporting Crop Protection Products in Minor Use Crops
Crop protection products are not always registered or have MRLs established for all of the crops in which they can be used. The Minor Use Foundation works to secure registration and MRLs for products that help protect these crops and open up market opportunities for farmers. These videos show how the Foundation and its partners were able to register crop protection products that are vital in mango and avocado farming.
Impact: Tools for Avocado Producers in Colombia
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Learn how the Minor Use Foundation project in Colombia helped avocado producers increase yields by 20%, open valuable export markets and increase returns for farmers.
Common MRL Questions
Why are MRLs and ITs different depending on the country?
Patterns of how products are used and what constitutes good agriculture practice for a particular crop protection product can vary depending on the location. Local residue data may therefore be different. Regions may also have different definitions of residues, crop groups and how they calculate MRLs. Corteva works to develop products and propose MRLs to be as widely accepted as possible.
What is the difference between MRLs and safety standards, like toxicity?
Toxicity measures the risk of harm based on exposure to a substance. For example, a sprinkle of salt on food carries very little risk but ingesting a tablespoon of salt can be toxic to a child. MRLs are not safety measures, but instead monitor whether a crop protection product was used properly. Even so, MRLs are set far below any level that could possibly harm human health.
According to SafeFruitsandVeggies.com, this is the average amount of strawberries that could be consumed in one day, “without any effect, even if the strawberries have the highest pesticide residue recorded for strawberries by the USDA.”
What about secondary restrictions?
Secondary restrictions may be set by retailers, food companies and others in the downstream value chain. Secondary restrictions may regulate the number of allowed residues above 0.01 mg/kg, define lower MRLs and limit or ban the use of certain approved crop protection products. These restrictions can be related to business factors, such as meeting sustainability goals, maintaining a particular certification and meeting consumer demands.
Global MRL Resources
Use the map to visit MRL guidelines for specific regions and countries. For global information, visit Codex Alimentarius, HOMOLOGA (subscription required), and Bryantchristies (subscription required).
Always consult with local experts for the most up-to-date MRL information.