1. Lecture #3 Sections 10.4 & 10.5 Alternatives to Current Pesticide Uses & Reducing Pesticide exposure

2. Alternatives to Pesticide Use Behavioral Changes – Crop Rotation – Mechanical Cultivation – Flooding Fields – Habitat Diversification – Growing in Pest-Free Zones – Adjusting Planting Times – Plant Mixed Polycultures – Tillage at the Right Time

3. Biological Controls Predators or pathogens Insects that eat weeds Plants like the neem tree that make their own pesticides Bioengineering Release of sterile male insects Hormones that disrupt development or attract insects to traps

4. Integrated Pest Management Flexible, ecologically-based strategy that uses a combination of techniques applied at specific times aimed at specific pests – Tries to minimize use of chemical controls and avoids broad spectrum controls – Uses preventative practices to encourage beneficial organisms and enhance plant defenses – Employs economic thresholds to determine the point at which potential economic damage justifies pest control expenditures

5. Integrated Pest Management – Time, type and method of application are critical – Trap crops - small areas planted before the main crop. These plants mature first and attract the insects, and the trap crop is then sprayed heavily to destroy them. Crop is cut down and not sold. IPM is being used successfully all over the world. Cuts pesticide use while maintaining yield. – But must be careful that introduced organisms do not become pests themselves

6. Reducing Pesticide Exposure Less than 10% of active pesticide ingredients have been subjected to a full battery of chronic health- effect tests. – Of the 321 pesticides screened, EPA reports 146 are probable human carcinogens. Since 1972, only 40 pesticides have been banned.

7. Regulating Pesticides Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) all share federal responsibility for regulating pesticides used in food production in the U.S. – EPA regulates sale and use, and sets tolerance levels. – FDA and USDA enforce pesticide use and tolerance levels set by EPA.

8. Regulating Pesticides In 1996, Congress passed Food Quality Protection Act requiring the EPA to set aggregate exposure limits and examine inert ingredients in pesticides. Based on the new rules, EPA banned use of methyl parathion on all fruits and many vegetables and prohibited use of Dursban. Studies show children are more susceptible than adults to toxic pesticides. Ban of CCA treated lumber (chromated copper arsenate) used in play equipment and decks.

9. Regulating Pesticides 38% of fruits and 12% of U.S. vegetables are imported. Less than 0.2% is inspected for pesticides, which are widely used in developing nations.

10. Is Organic the Answer? Numerous studies have shown organic, sustainable agriculture is more eco-friendly and leaves soil healthier than intensive, chemical-based mono- culture cropping. – Currently, less than 1% of all American farmland is organic but market is growing. – Organic food must be produced without the use of hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or genetic modification. – Animals must be raised on organic feed, given access to the outdoors, given no steroids or growth hormones and given antibiotics only to treat disease.

11. Is Organic the Answer? Critics are disappointed by limited scope of the definition of organic. They hope to include: – Growing food in harmony with nature – Food distribution based on co-ops, farmer’s markets, and local production – Food should be simple, wholesome, nutritious. At present, processed ingredients are allowed in organic food. Some doubt whether organic growers can produce enough to feed everyone.