Pesticide Update

Pesticide Update

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Susan Allen, an important member of our aginfo.net team, pointed me in the direction of the genetic literacy project which put out a six part information series on the current state of pesticides. Before we get to that, listen to Sharon Selvaggio from Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides: “We all want clean, pure water. Growers and irrigation districts highlighted in the guide show how they’ve used alternative approaches for managing insects, weeds and disease. And when pesticides are used, simple actions – like planting trees on the edges of fields or preventing drift – can have a powerful impact on water quality.”

Genetic Literacy Project claims many arguments made in the media are oversimplified compared to the real challenge of producing food in the most healthy and efficient way possible. It is easy to call organic good and conventional bad, but that is not accurate and not the best way to improve farming practices going forward. Many changes and improvements in pesticides and farming practices have been made over the last few decades, but to continue improving, we need to evaluate each pesticide, technology and farming practice individually and constantly compare them with alternatives. This is the only way to accurately and scientifically meet the challenges we face in the future, including an increasing population and climate change.

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