MRL Workshop 2026

The 2026 MRL Harmonization Workshop will be held May 27-28 at the Hyatt Regency, Sacramento.

2026 AGENDA 

Tuesday, May 26

Registration 3:00-5:00 PM

Wednesday May 27: Welcome, Global Trends & Setting the Stage

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
MRL Introduction for Newcomers, Michelle Sharpe/BASF.

  • For newcomers and anyone wanting a refresher.
  • MRL 101
  • MRL Acronyms – Bingo
  • Buddy system for first timers—meet your MRL mentor!

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Morning Session: Moderator Matt Lantz/Bryant Christie/Welcome & Icebreaker

  • Interactive poll: “What’s your biggest MRL headache?”
  • Randomized networking assignments to spark new connections.

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Regional spotlight: EUROPE.   The State of MRLs in Europe

  • The latest on MRL policies in Europe, Euros Jones/ERM

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Regional Spotlight:  USA: Make America Healthy Again & MRLs

  • What is MAHA and are there possible implications for MRLs, Sally Parkinson/CropLife America

9:30 AM – 10:10 AM

Panel: NORTH AMERICA: Moderator Matt Lantz/Bryant Christie

The State of MRLs in North America – Sally Parkinson/CropLife America, Paul Enwerekowe

/CropLife Canada, Pamela Suarez/PROCCYT

  • A panel discussing differences between MRLs in Canada, US, and Mexico. Experts from each market
  • What’s happened/will happen with USMCA review

10:10 AM-10:30 AM Coffee and Networking Break

10:30 AM – 11:20 PM
Regional Spotlight: NORTH ASIAN MRLs

  • Experts from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan will discuss in a panel the latest on pesticides and MRL policies in their markets – Speaker’s courtesy of the USDA Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) program. Pei-Yun Lee/Taiwan, Kwon Chanhyeok/Korea, Tsuyoshi Arai/Japan, Akiko Kobayashi/Japan  

11:20 AM – 11:45 AM
Regional Spotlights: AUSTRALIA:  Alan Norden/Minor Use Foundation

  • Australia – doing it right!
  • Setting MRLs for minor crops in Australia
  • Australia’s annual MRL alignment process (FSANZ)

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Regional Spotlight: Latin America Moderator Matt Lantz/Bryant Christie

Experts from Latin America will discuss in a panel the latest on pesticides and MRL policies in their markets – Speaker’s courtesy of the USDA Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) program; Veronica Picado/Minor Use Foundation, Carlos Hildago/IICA.

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Table Topics

  • Themed tables (e.g., “Biopesticides,” “Trade Barriers,” “MRL Therapy”) for focused networking.

May 27 Afternoon: Deep Dives & Dialogue

Afternoon Session Moderator: Michelle Sharpe/BASF

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Global Panel: The Latest on CODEX Moderator Marie Maratos Bhat/U.S. CODEX Office

  • Presentation: The US Codex Delegation Priorities for CCPR/Codex Dietary Exposure Assessment discussions – Aaron Niman/EPA
  • Minor Use Foundation and CODEX – Anna Gore/Minor Use Foundation
  • Panel Discussion on CODEX – Jane Stewart/BASF, Jim Cranney/California Citrus Quality Council, Alinne Oliveira/Bryant Christie

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Breakout Sessions (Choose Your Adventure!)

  • MRLs for Specialty Crops & Organics, Jason Sandahl/Ag Aligned Global
  • Biopesticides: Regulatory Hurdles & Success Stories, Alinne Oliveira/Bryant Christie
  • Management of MRLs Across the Food Supply Chain, Michelle Sharpe/BASF

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Break – “MRL Therapy” Lounge

  • Unwind, share stories, and grab a soda

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Stories from the Trenches I:  GROWERS and SHIPPERS: MRLs & Trade Barriers – Real World Challenges

  • Case studies:
    • Cherries to Taiwan (Virna Stillwaugh / Northwest Horticultural Council)
    • Potatoes to South Korea (Matt Lantz/ Bryant Christie)
    • Hops to EU (Alinne Oliveira/ Bryant Christie)
  • How to address missing/misaligned MRLs, and what to do when MRLs don’t align.
  • What would you do?  Each table will have the opportunity to discuss.
  • What happened in each scenario.

4:15 PM – 5:00 PM
Stories from the Trenches II:  Registrants: Difficulties in Establishing MRLs

  • How companies face MRL issues, registrant representatives tell stories, Jane Stewart/BASF, Jing Wang/Corteva, Christine May/Syngenta

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Reception & Global Tasting Tour

  • Celebrate with food and drink from around the world: network, relax, and enjoy!

May 28: Innovation, Inclusion & Action

Morning Session Moderator: Amy Latham/Corteva

7:15 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast and MRLs for Newcomers (optional), Michelle Sharpe/BASF

  • Newbie Check-in – an open Q&A / Ask Me Anything session

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Welcome Back & “MRL News Flash” powered by AI, Michelle Sharpe/BASF

  • What does AI say about the last 10 years of MRL harmonization workshop presentations?
  • We’re the harmonization workshop – what have we harmonized?
  • MRL Year in Review: What are the biggest things that have happened since our last conference? Matt Lantz/Bryant Christie

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
FoodChainID Database Demonstration, Madison Jackson/FoodChainID

  • Getting the most out of the database
  • Features you may not be aware of

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Grower & Retailer Perspectives

  • Panel: Voices from the field: What’s working, what’s not, and how it is impacting you. Moderator Amy Latham/Corteva

Todd Scholz/USA Pulses, Roberta Firoved/USA Rice, Jim Cranney/California Citrus Quality Council, Alyssa Houtby/North American Blueberry Council, Caroline Stringer/California Fresh Fruit Association, Cameron Boomgaarden/Vann Brothers

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Break

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
USDA Research Updater on MRL Issues, Spencer Walse/USDA-ARS

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Presenter: ASCE-ing global trade for specialty crops, Elizabeth Leonardi/USDA-FAS

  • Wins and updates from the USDA FAS Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) program

11:30 AM – Noon

Wrap-Up: Key Takeaways & Next Steps Matt Lantz/Bryant Christie, Michelle Sharpe/BASF, Amy Latham/Corteva

  • Summary of action items, feedback poll, and announcement of 2027 location.
  • Adjourn.