Pesticide News

As-needed pesticide use brings wild bees, preserves corn profits, and reduces pesticides by 95%

A study from researchers at Purdue University indicates an as-needed approach to pesticides can boost some crop yields while attracting beneficial wild pollinators. The study compared impacts of integrated pest management (IPM) versus conventional pest management. A regionally dominant row crop (corn) was co-produced with a pollinator-dependent crop (watermelon). A 95% reduction in pesticide treatments […]

17 major food manufacturers ranked on growing investment risk posed by use of pesticides

As You Sow has released a second edition of Pesticides in the Pantry: Transparency & Risk in Food Supply Chains, examining the growing risk to food companies due to pesticides in supply chains. The report scored 17 major food manufacturers on 28 indicators to measure their effectiveness in reducing pesticide risk and improving agricultural resiliency. […]

Corporate studies affirming glyphosate safety have major flaws, report finds

Reflecting a worrisome trend of regulators using industry-funded research and ignoring red flags, a new analysis of corporate-backed studies on glyphosate safety (Roundup) reveals serious flaws. The Institute of Cancer Research at the Medical University of Vienna’s 187-page report found that only two of 53 safety assessments met current international scientific standards. The others used […]

Sri Lanka’s ban on agrochemicals lowers suicide rates, earning “Policy Oscar”

The country of Sri Lanka has received the Future Policy Special Award 2021 from Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific. The award recognized two policies that were instrumental in banning Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HPPs), chemicals responsible for thousands of suicides in the country. Five winners of the award—the “Oscar on Best Policies”—were chosen from 55 policies […]

U.S. beekeepers report second highest colony losses ever—with pesticides as major culprit

The Bee Informed Partnership reported in June the second-highest annual losses of honeybee colonies for the second year running. A preliminary report reveals that beekeepers lost nearly half (45.5%) of their colonies over the past year. Agricultural pesticides are a key driver of population decline for honeybees and other pollinators, like native bees and butterflies. […]