Sustainable Solutions Criteria

Valent's Environmental Fit icon focuses on protection of the environment, including surrounding production areas and wildlife including pollinators as it pertains to product use. Valent is committed to supporting responsible and ethical crop protection product management from the product discovery and development phase, to the use in grower fields, and to the recycling of the product container. The overall aim of our stewardship approach is to maximize the benefits and minimize risk from using crop management products.

To obtain the Environmental Fit icon, the product must demonstrate low or no hazard to aquatic, terrestrial, or pollinator wildlife based on data, regulatory review, and federal and state registration. There must also be no product restrictions related to natural habitat protection and minimal risk related to persistence as indicated by the label.

Valent supports advancement of sustainable ag practices including conservation tillage. Conservation tillage leaves plant residue after harvest and supports the improvement of both soil and water quality. Weed management is critical in conservation tillage and herbicides play an important role in that practice. In reduced-tillage agriculture, weeds may already be present at planting time and must be killed or suppressed. Certain types of weeds can be more problematic in no-till agriculture and may require special consideration. Valent evaluates the product based on use within these practices.

To obtain the Conservation Tillage icon, the product must demonstrate successful use in conservation tillage as defined by agronomy professionals.​

Soil health includes sustainable management practices conducted on-farm to improve soil quality and benefit long-term profitability and sustainability of agricultural lands. Many of the same practices that sequester carbon in the soil can improve soil health on agricultural lands. Valent's sustainable solutions criteria evaluates how a product supports practices that increase organic matter in soil, which may improve the water holding capacity, soil aggregation, and water infiltration. This promotes resilience to climate-related impacts such as drought, heat waves, or heavy rains.

To obtain the Soil Health icon, the product must demonstrate compatibility with conservation tillage, does not limit crop rotation, supports cover cropping, and/or directly contributes to soil biodiversity.

Using crop inputs safely supports worker efficiency and depends on several factors. One of the most important factors is selecting the appropriate product and using that product according to the label directions. Doing this will ensure the product is used correctly and will minimize risks to workers and the environment. Products require specific handling needs to protect workers including Handlers/Applicators and Reentering Workers & Bystanders. Valent's sustainable solutions criteria evaluates product information, regulatory reviews and labeling requirements.

To obtain the Worker Efficiency icon, the product must have labeling & use requirements that provide the maximum flexibility for workers specific to personal protective equipment and field operations management*.​

*Reentry, pre-harvest interval, etc.​

Food loss is a complex issue that occurs throughout the food value chain. Valent's sustainable solutions criteria reviews how inputs can support reduction at the field level, both pre- and post-harvest.

To obtain the Reduces Food Loss icon, the product must contribute to reducing field loss by protecting the crop commodity from pest damage, by impact on harvest efficiency, and/or preservation of crop nutrients and quality through one or more of the following: 

• Directly increasing harvest efficiency thereby preventing loss of in-field yield (e.g. via lodging) prior to or during harvest
• Direct preservation or enhancement of actual harvest quality as measured by grade, reduced damage, packout or other industry-relevant metric, thereby decreasing proportion of "culls" or less desirable food
• Direct protection of actual harvest nutritional quality through extended commodity storage, thereby reducing food waste due to spoilage (can include pre-harvest materials applied to consumed commodity)​​

Properly applied, pesticides can contribute to improved crop production efficiency including higher yields and improved product quality by controlling weeds, insects, nematodes and plant pathogens. Plant Growth Regulators can be used to increase harvest efficiency and grade. ​ Pest management and optimizing agricultural cropping systems are integral for food security.

To obtain the Improves Crop Production Efficiency icon, a product can add value by improving or enhancing yield. This icon showcases a product benefit which can include increased yield, yield protection, and/or improved plant health, water and nutrient use that enhance efficiency of crop production.

Valent evaluates how a product fits within the cropping system and how the use of the product scientifically demonstrates enhanced quality. Crop Management Products provide economic benefits to producers and by extension to consumers. One of the major benefits of pesticides is protection of crop quality and yield. Pesticides can prevent large crop losses, therefore increasing agricultural output and farm profitability.

To obtain the Enhances Quality icon the product must demonstrate direct and improved quality, which can include appearance, grade, etc. of the raw agricultural commodity.​

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally focused approach to pest management that relies on a combination of widely used practices. IPM programs use current and comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information is used to manage damage by the most economical means and with the least possible risks. Valent evaluates a product based on how a product is compatible within a program and the benefits the product provides the grower.

To obtain the IPM Friendly icon, the product must be part of a resistance management program. as well as minimal risk to beneficial organisms.