Research

Pesticide Safety Training Research

We are working on a contract for the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to understand the effectiveness of pesticide safety training for fieldworkers and pesticide applicators in California, barriers to reporting pesticide safety violations, and recommendations to improve these processes. We conducted 11 focus groups with farmworkers across the state in summer 2025, including two in Napa/Sonoma, two in the San Joaquin Valley, two in Imperial/Coachella, two in the North Central Coast, and two in the South Central Coast, including one in Mixteco. We worked with the Central California Environmental Justice Network (CCEJN) and Líderes Campesinas to conduct and facilitate the focus groups. We also conducted key informant interviews with a range of stakeholders, including County Agricultural Commissioners, employers/Farm Labor Contractors, pesticide safety trainers, industry representatives, and Community Based Organizations (CBOs). We will publish a comprehensive report with our findings this summer.

Pesticide Training