CPDA Expands in U.S. as Biopesticides and Regulation Reshape Agriculture
CPDA's Dallas meeting highlighted membership growth and an agricultural agenda increasingly shaped by biopesticides, regulation and supply challenges.
The Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) held its 2026 Annual Meeting from September 28-30 in Dallas, Texas, with a clear sign of expansion: the organization surpassed 100 members while strengthening its involvement in regulatory and agricultural policy discussions. The milestone matters for U.S. agriculture because CPDA represents companies involved in crop protection, adjuvants and agricultural technologies at a time when producers and suppliers are navigating tighter farm economics, environmental requirements, supply chain concerns and rapidly growing interest in biological crop inputs.
The meeting was held alongside CropLife America and The Fertilizer Institute as part of an event expected to bring together more than 900 agricultural industry leaders and representatives. Manufacturers, formulators, distributors, suppliers and other participants examined an increasingly complex operating environment in which regulatory decisions can directly influence product availability and input costs. CPDA President and CEO Terry Kippley highlighted the association's membership growth during 2026 as well as its expanding participation in government affairs affecting the U.S. crop protection industry.
Biopesticides and Regulation Move Higher on the Agricultural Agenda
One of the clearest indications of change in the crop input market is the growing interest in biopesticides and other biological products. CPDA launched a Biopesticide Working Group in 2026 and sponsored research involving 604 U.S. corn, soybean and wheat growers. According to results released by the organization, biopesticide use increased by 9 percentage points compared with its 2024 study, while overall grower awareness of biological products approached 90%, highlighting how quickly these technologies are moving into mainstream crop production discussions.
For farmers and agronomists, however, increasing awareness does not automatically translate into widespread adoption. Biological products must compete for space in crop protection programs based on performance, cost, compatibility and return on investment. With input costs remaining a major concern for U.S. producers, adoption will depend not only on sustainable agriculture objectives but also on consistent field performance, resistance-management benefits and measurable economic returns across commercial corn, soybean and wheat production systems.
Regulatory policy was another major component of the Dallas discussions. Topics surrounding the Endangered Species Act, Farm Bill, PRIA 6, co-formulants and supply reliability have direct implications for the crop protection sector. Companies and growers are closely watching how regulatory requirements could affect registrations, labels and application practices. For producers, those decisions can ultimately influence product availability, management choices and per-acre production costs, particularly when commodity prices and farm margins are forcing operators to scrutinize virtually every line of their crop budgets.
Farm Economics and Supply Chains Add Pressure to U.S. Agriculture
The economic position of American farmers also featured prominently in the meeting. USDA Chief Economist Justin Benavidez addressed agricultural economic challenges heading into the 2026/27 period. The discussion comes as growers, co-ops and agricultural suppliers balance fertilizer, seed, crop protection, machinery and financing expenses against changing commodity price and yield expectations. Under those conditions, federal agricultural policy, crop insurance and Farm Bill decisions become increasingly important components of risk management and farm planning.
Another central concern is the resilience of the agricultural supply chain. During 2026, CPDA participated with other agricultural organizations in federal discussions surrounding crop protection input availability, manufacturing capacity and food security. Dependence on certain raw materials and international supply networks remains strategically important for U.S. agriculture. Reliable access to products during critical application windows is essential for farmers, agricultural retailers and co-ops, particularly when logistical disruptions can affect pest management programs and potentially crop yields.
CPDA's expanding membership helps explain why these discussions extend beyond the organization itself. According to figures released by CPDA, its member network represents nearly 90% of the U.S. crop protection market, estimated at approximately $15 billion. The figures are the organization's own estimate, but they illustrate the economic reach of its membership and the potential impact that decisions involving regulation, manufacturing, innovation and supply reliability can have across a significant portion of commercial U.S. agriculture.
The annual meeting also brought a leadership transition. Greg Lindner of Croda became CPDA chairman, succeeding Patrick Ewan of Helena Agri-Enterprises. The change comes as the organization seeks a stronger role in discussions shaping the future of crop protection. With membership now above 100 companies, increased regulatory engagement and a specific focus on biopesticides, CPDA left Dallas signaling that the next phase of the U.S. agricultural input market will increasingly connect innovation, regulation, supply security and farm profitability.
