Pesticides are a widely used tool for pest control. However, if not applied correctly, they can pose serious threats to human health, ecosystems, and food safety. Unsafe pesticide practices can have far-reaching consequences for various groups, including agricultural workers, consumers, pollinators, and water sources.
Below is a conversation with Melanie Bateman and Anna Wood from CABI about the risks associated with pesticide use. Anna also discussed the new CABI Academy course, Reducing Pesticide Risk, which supports the PlantwisePlus program’s goal of raising awareness about pesticide dangers and promoting safer plant protection methods.
Why is reducing pesticide risk a key focus for the PlantwisePlus program?
MB: Studies show that the global demand for pesticides is increasing, particularly in low and lower-middle-income countries. This trend negatively impacts food systems, human health, and the environment. A large number of highly hazardous pesticides are still in use in these areas, with reports indicating that nearly 70% of all approved pesticides are classified as highly hazardous.
Reducing pesticide risk is a top priority for the PlantwisePlus program because:
• Farmers will encounter lower pesticide exposure, leading to fewer health issues and acute poisonings, thus enhancing their overall health.
• We can guarantee the provision of safer products within food systems.
• There will be a reduction in rejections due to exceeding maximum residue levels in international trade, resulting in increased net income for farmers.
• We will observe positive effects on biodiversity, soil and aquatic health, along with diminished levels of toxic chemicals in the environment.
What are the primary risks linked to pesticide usage?
MB: The application of any pesticide carries inherent risks; however, these risks can be minimized by choosing the least harmful pesticide, adhering to the safety guidelines provided on the product label, and utilizing the required protective gear.
Farmers are the principal users of pesticides and face exposure risks while mixing or applying these products. Additionally, they may come into contact with pesticides during application if the spray touches their skin or eyes, or if it is inhaled.
Exposure may also happen if an individual enters a treated area, such as a sprayed field or greenhouse, before the designated safe re-entry period for that specific product has elapsed. Failure to comply with safe pesticide usage instructions increases the risk of harmful pesticide residues remaining on crops at harvest, potentially affecting consumer health.
When pesticides are misused, they can contaminate the environment through runoff from agricultural fields, spray drift, and leaks from damaged sprayers or discarded containers. This contamination can infiltrate the soil or waterways, posing threats to wildlife, including beneficial insects, birds, mammals, and fish. Human drinking water sources can also become polluted.
Thus, it is crucial for farmers to adhere to the product label instructions regarding safe pesticide application and to understand how to safeguard themselves with the appropriate personal protective equipment.
How does PlantwisePlus assist farmers and agricultural advisors in minimizing these risks?
MB: PlantwisePlus collaborates with partners to identify and promote locally relevant strategies aimed at decreasing dependence on pesticides (for instance, through integrated pest management), selecting the least risky plant protection products, and alleviating risks associated with pesticide usage.
What topics does the new CABI Academy course, Reducing Pesticide Risk, address, and what are its primary goals? AN: The new Reducing Pesticide Risk course offers insights into pesticide risk using straightforward language, supplemented with diagrams, case studies, and videos to clarify the essential points. Each section presents key concepts in a comprehensible manner, accompanied by quizzes at the end of each section to assist participants in verifying their understanding. By the conclusion of the course, participants will grasp the notion of risk, its connection to pesticides, and methods to mitigate that risk.
What essential topics or skills do learners gain regarding safe and effective pest management?
AN: The course emphasizes the primary groups at risk of pesticide exposure, which include:
• Farmers and farmworkers who utilize them to safeguard their crops
• Agro-input dealers who store and manage pesticide containers in their establishments
• Consumers of produce cultivated on farms that apply pesticides
• A diverse array of non-target animals and plants in the environment that are affected when pesticides are misused on farms.
The course presents various strategies to minimize risk for each of these groups. These strategies encompass accurate pest identification to determine whether a pesticide is necessary initially, or to ensure that the most appropriate pesticide for the target pest is selected. It also underscores the significance of obtaining information on and adhering to relevant pesticide laws and regulations in the participants’ respective countries.
How does this course enhance decision-making?
AN: The course begins by outlining pesticide risk: defining what risk is, identifying who is at risk, and understanding how they are affected. It then delves into pesticide classification, detailing what constitutes a highly hazardous pesticide and the associated risks.
The course examines two primary aspects of pesticide risk in depth. First, the risk to human health. Second, the risk to environmental health.
Additionally, the course emphasizes the significance of accurate pest diagnosis to choose the most appropriate and least harmful product, as well as the consequences of selecting an unsuitable one.
Participants also gain practical insights on evaluating and mitigating pesticide risks to both humans and the environment. This encompasses interpreting label information, including hazard symbols, color coding, and safety pictograms.
Throughout the course, learners utilize information from their respective countries regarding pesticide availability, regulations, and labeling, and engage in a workbook activity that leads them through a systematic process for comparing pesticides to determine the lowest-risk alternative.
How does the course align with and support the broader objectives of the PlantwisePlus programme?
MB: The PlantwisePlus programme is designed to empower smallholder farmers in managing changing plant health challenges, enhancing their incomes, improving food security and safety, and minimizing biodiversity loss. The use of pesticides can adversely affect food safety and biodiversity.
This course aids in achieving the wider goals of the PlantwisePlus programme by increasing awareness of pesticide risks and strategies for their mitigation, as well as promoting effective and affordable lower-risk alternatives to harmful pesticides.
Digital tools and eLearning platforms, such as CABI Academy, enable the timely dissemination of information, allowing for remote training and the efficient sharing of best practices and innovations. The digital tools provided by PlantwisePlus assist agricultural extension workers, private-sector advisors, plant protection officers, farmers, researchers, and students in adopting safe and effective agricultural methods.
Original Article was first Carried in the CABI website. Photos: Courtesy of CABI