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In many countries, pesticides are considered an essential part of agriculture. People think that if you don’t use pesticides to protect your plants from insects and other pests, your crop will fail and you’ll lose lots of money.
But excessive use of pesticides has had serious environmental consequences.
Pesticides contaminate soil and water. There are many examples of entire communities suffering from chronic pesticide poisoning. Even when used properly, some pesticide chemicals remain in the environment for years, evaporating into the atmosphere and in effect polluting the entire planet.
Using large amounts of pesticides is unsustainable from both an environmental and public health point of view. In many cases, using pesticides may not even make sense economically. Often, the extra money from bigger crops thanks to pesticides doesn’t cover the cost of the pesticides themselves! There are often cheaper alternatives available.
FAO is constantly researching and testing ways of reducing farmers’ dependency on pesticides. Less pesticide means fewer toxic chemicals in the environment, fewer accidental poisonings and lower expenses for the farmer.
Here are just a few of the areas where FAO is working:
Integrated Pest Management uses a number of different techniques to control pests. In most fields, pests have natural enemies, (including the farmer!). IPM uses a pest’s natural predators to protect crops. The IPM approach may not completely eliminate pesticide use, but it keeps it to a minimum. Pesticides are used only when it can be proven that the costs are worth it, and that there will be no harmful effects on community health and the environment.
Throughout Asia, rice cultivation has improved with IPM programmes. Yields have increased and pesticide use has declined. In Indonesia, natural pest control has replaced more than US$100 million per year in pesticides while rice yields have increased by nearly 20 percent. Over the past 20 years, more than 50 countries have incorporated some form of natural pest control in their domestic agricultural policy.
One of the most successful means FAO has used to introduce IPM techniques is through Farmer Field Schools.
Organic farming uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. The demand for organic foods is growing as people become more aware of the impact pesticides are having on the environment and our health.
FAO works with research and development organizations around the world to provide support to organic farmers. The Organization has set up pilot projects to test and promote organic farming techniques in several countries.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is coordinated jointly by FAO and the World Health Organization, has published guidelines for production, processing, labeling and marketing of organically produced food. Want to find out more about the Codex Alimentarius Commission? You should. It plays a big role in guaranteeing food safety.
FAO had a key role in negotiating the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides. This voluntary code helps ensure that pesticides are manufactured, packaged, transported, managed, stored and disposed of in ways that pose the least possible risk to human health and the environment.
FAO also helped negotiate the Rotterdam Convention, which ensures that trade in extremely hazardous pesticides is closely monitored and restricted.
Want to find out more about FAO’s work on pesticides? Why not meet Elisabetta Tagliati?
