The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides was founded 31 years ago in response to forestry spraying. Over the years we have worked on a wide range of other pesticide issues. Currently, we are focusing on the following programs:

The Clean Water for Salmon Campaign seeks to protect endangered Northwest salmon species by securing clean water. New research shows that pesticides can harm salmon at very low levels. To meet this challenge, NCAP has developed an innovative and comprehensive regional campaign that will dramatically change pesticide use in the Northwest.

The Inerts Disclosure Campaign seeks to ensure the public's right to know about ALL the ingredients in pesticide products. Product labels identify the 'active' ingredients (the ones that act on the 'pest'), but only say what percentage of the product is made up of 'inert ingredients' or 'other ingredients.' There are over 2,000 chemicals used as 'inerts' in pesticides and many of them are toxic to humans and the environment.

Pesticide Free Parks are now a reality in more than eleven Northwest cities through the hard work of NCAP and dedicated citizens. In Portland, Oregon we established a volunteer network to ensure the success of the three pesticide-free parks.

In 1999, NCAP's Pesticide Use Reporting Program was instrumental in getting the nation's most comprehensive pesticide use reporting bill through a hostile Oregon legislature. Promoting people's right to know, NCAP is pushing for strong implementation of this law.

NCAP's Public Education Program gets information on pesticide issues into the hands of the people who are concerned about pesticides and want to make changes -- in their own lives and in their communities. We develop our own publications and maintain an extensive library on chemicals, alternatives, and pesticide issues.

NCAP's Sustainable Agriculture Program focuses on potatoes, the most pesticide-intensive crop grown in the Northwest. NCAP collaborated with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Idaho to demonstrate a sustainable method of disease control on their prime potato-growing lands. This truly "green" technique was a successful substitute for soil fumigants that contaminate soil and water. Idaho potato farmers are increasingly adopting this practice as NCAP paves the way for Idaho potatoes to go organic.