Abbott to Lawmakers: Innovation in Ag Includes Existing Tools, Not Just New Ones

Renee Targos By Renee Targos|24 July 2025

Terry Abbott, Chairman of the Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) and Senior Product Portfolio Manager for Adjuvants Unlimited addressed the House Agriculture Committee during a hearing entitled Past Breakthroughs and Innovations in Crop Production on 22 July 2025.  

Abbott’s testimony advocated for the use of adjuvants, addressing the backlog in product registrations, accurate information about chemical pesticides shared with the public, and educating growers on use of products. You can see the testimony here.

AgriBusiness Global asked Abbott a few more questions about his testimony and the expected outcomes. You can also see and ask your questions to Abbott live at the AgriBusiness Global LIVE! webinar focused on Adjuvants and Inerts on 31 July 2025.

ABG: How and why did this testimony happen?

Terry Abbott: The House Agriculture Committee invited CPDA to testify as part of their hearing on crop production innovations. We appreciated the opportunity and accepted the invitation.

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Terry Abbott

This gave us a chance to share how tools like adjuvants and generics support innovation in the field. I was proud to represent CPDA’s members and speak directly to the issues growers face especially in getting timely access to tools and the need for a fully functioning regulatory system.

ABG: What do you think the results of it will be?

TA: We hope it puts a sharper focus on the backlog at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the need for a well-funded, predictable Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP).

We also wanted to make sure policymakers understand that innovation includes proven technologies, not just new ones.

If the testimony provided helps advance funding for OPP, improves regulatory timelines, or gets more support for risk-based Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance tools like Drift Reduction Adjuvants (DRAs), that’s a win for growers.

ABG: How do you think the crop protection industry can get the EPA to stop being backlogged?

TA: It’s going to take resources and accountability. Congress needs to fully fund the OPP and make sure EPA is using those dollars to meet its obligations. The backlog didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t be fixed overnight, but industry is at the table offering solutions.

ABG: How do you think we can turn public opinion of chemical pesticides around to understand they can be a part of an integrated management system needed for growers?

TA: We need to keep telling the full story. People tend to fear what they don’t understand.

Pesticides are one part of a broader system that includes precision ag, stewardship practices, and integrated pest management. Today, farmers are utilizing advanced technologies, using fewer inputs, and achieving better results.

The public wants safe food and a healthy environment and so do we. But we’ve got to remind people that crop protection products are among the most researched and tested technologies in the world. When used properly, they help growers protect their crops, reduce tillage, and be better stewards of the land.

Renee Targos, as Editor of AgriBusiness GlobalTM Direct magazine, leads in content development, event programming, and managing the ABG Board of Advisors and strategic growth of the magazine. Renee’s professional experience covers more than two decades of national and international digital and print content development, editing, and journalism. She received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and continued her education with master’s level courses in business administration and behavioral analysis. Renee has served as a board member for several Arizona-based non-profits and government commissions. See all author stories here.