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CCST Convening Report Examines Post-Harvest Commodity Fumigation and Alternatives in California
May 4, 2026 | CCST Newsroom, Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) has published new convening proceedings, the third product in a multi-part study on fumigant pesticide use in California, commissioned by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). The publication, Post-Harvest Commodity Fumigation in California: Roundtable Convening Proceedings, summarizes findings from an expert convening CCST held in November 2025 to examine the current state of post-harvest commodity fumigation and opportunities to reduce worker and community exposure.
DPR announced the release of the convening report today via a press release. The full publication is available to download at CCST’s website.
CCST assembled a diverse group for the convening, including academic, industry, public health, environmental justice, and regulatory experts, for a series of discussions focused on four post-harvest fumigant pesticides: methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride, phosphine, and propylene oxide. All four are restricted-use materials applied primarily to protect stored food products from fungal disease and insect pests after harvesting.
The proceedings synthesize participants’ perspectives across five key areas: the current drivers of fumigant use for stored commodities; community exposure and emission concerns; available and emerging alternatives such as controlled atmospheres, irradiation, and pheromone-based tools; barriers to adoption of alternatives, including international regulatory requirements, cost, and research gaps; and priority areas for future scientific study.
“Fumigants are currently a critical tool in protecting California’s food supply, but their use raises important questions about worker and community safety,” said CCST CEO Julianne McCall, PhD. “This convening brought together diverse expertise to map the research gaps and systemic barriers that can inform the state’s path toward sustainable pest management.”
Funded through the California Budget 2023–24, DPR commissioned CCST to conduct an independent, multi-part study on fumigant use in California following the release of the state’s Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap. The study examines current fumigant use, available and potential alternatives, the viability of adoption, and barriers to and incentives for wide-scale transitions to safer pest management tools.
The Phase I report, released in May 2025, evaluated the use of and alternatives to the pre-plant soil fumigants 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin. The Phase II report, released in February 2026, assessed the use of and alternatives to sulfuryl fluoride for structural fumigation. The final phase, examining pre-plant fumigants including methyl bromide, dazomet, metam-sodium, and metam-potassium, is anticipated later in 2026.
The proceedings are a summary of conversations that occurred during an expert roundtable and did not undergo CCST’s peer-review study process.
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About the California Council on Science and Technology
The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serves as a trusted source of expert science and technology advice for California policymakers—powered by a world-class partner network. CCST was established via a unanimous vote of the California State Legislature in 1988 to make California’s policies stronger with science and technology.
