7 strategies to reduce pesticide use
Pesticides play a critical role in the food system.
They are used to protect crops, but can have negative effects on the environment and human health.
While global use of pesticides has grown to 3.5 billion kilograms of active ingredients per year, a significant portion of the chemicals used in industrialized and developing countries are too uneconomical or unnecessary.
Today, there is a consensus among a wide range of stakeholders that pesticide use should be gradually reduced to the level needed to effectively ensure crop production, and the risks of pesticide use should be minimized.
Here are seven strategies to reduce pesticide use:
Pesticides play a critical role in the food system.
- Seedology
- Durable products
- Biocontrol and natural pesticides
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Agroecology
- organic farming
- Use low-risk pesticides
