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Pesticides. Use of Pesticides in Agriculture. Farmers produce plentiful food at a reasonable price. We rightly expect our food to be safe and nutritious. protect crops from pests, weeds and diseases
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Use of Pesticides in Agriculture • Farmers produce plentiful food at a reasonable price. • We rightly expect our food to be safe and nutritious. • protect crops from pests, weeds and diseases • prevent rats, mice, flies and other insects from consuming and contaminating foods when they are being stored
protect human health, by stopping crops being contaminated by harmful microbes and moulds • (http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/garden.asp?id=1347)
Pesticides pose particular problems • Pesticides are designed to be toxic to living Organisms. • Pesticides are intentionally dispersed in the environment. • Pesticides are often used by poorly educated and untrained individuals.
Pesticides are commonly applied to food crops and can leave residues that are consumed. • Pesticides often impact adversely on non target organisms that may serve important ecological functions, such as natural enemies of pests, pollinators, earth worms and birds. (ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai551e/ai551e00.pdf)
World Health Organization • The WHO has proposed an "acceptable daily intake“ • The amount of a pesticides: • "which during an entire lifetime appears to be without • appreciable risk on the basis of all known facts at the • time" • (WHO Technical Report Series 391, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, (1968) p.22). (Plimmer, p. 13)
For registration of a pesticide, studies of metabolism in plants, birds, fish, mammals, and the environment are often required. • Pesticide efficacy and safety are thus closely linked. • Efficacious use also implies economical use.
Safety and efficacy can only be ensured through continuous efforts to monitor and improve the way in which pesticides are used. • (Plimmer, p. 13)
“Let me remind you of the dramatic gains in nutrition, in farm and food production, and in health that have occurred within our lifetimes.” • -Leavitt S. White • -Public Affairs Department • -E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.
White Continues • “It is important to recognize America's farm and food record as one of the major success stories of the 20th century.” • “Food is abundant and dependable in terms of safety and quality.” • “These basic facts have established a solid foundation for social and human progress.” • (White, p. 90)
“Althogether the investment of six to eight years of time and up to $12 million is needed before a major new agrichemical is introduced.” • “Each successful new chemical has involved careful study, evaluation and trial” • (White, p. 91)
Works Cited: • Health and Safety Executive. Chemicals Regulation Directorate Pesticides. Available from http://www.nphttp://www.pesticides.gov.uk/garden. asp?id=1347s.gov/abli/. • Fiat Panis. Chemicals and Agriculture. Retrieved from http://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai551e/ai551e00.pdf
White, L.S.CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD. 90-93. Retrieved from http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/17778/1/ar760090.pdf • Plimmer, J.R. Food and Agriculture. P. 13-16 Retrieved from http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Magazines/Bulletin/Bull262/26205481316.pdf