Latest Issue Autumn 2011 E-mail
Quarterly / Autumn 2011

Editorial

2 articles are free this issue!

 

Wangari Maathai's final journey
Nobel laureate and environmental visionary Wangari Maathai died in September this year. Francesca de Gasparis, Director of the Green Belt Movement Europe pays her respects.

Biological control in Brazil
Brazil's megabiodiversity and long history in the use of biocontrol mean that a wide variety of arthropod and microbial natural enemies are available for use in pest and disease control. Vanda Bueno describes successes in different cropping systems, benefits obtained in terms of pesticide reduction and cost savings, and explores some of the factors which help or hinder wider uptake of biocontrol by Brazilian farmers.

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No level playing field - uneven distribution of benefit in organic cotton

Has rapid growth meant that the organic cotton sector has lost sight of long term vision and become too focused on markets rather than farmers? Simon Ferrigno reflects on the challenges facing the organic cotton sector following the International Cotton Advisory Council's 70th plenary meeting in September 2011.
 
When less equals more - the rapid rise of weeds resistant to glyphosate
Many weeds are becoming resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, undermining the case for some crops that have been genetically engineered to tolerate glyphosate. Pete Riley from campaign group GM Freeze provides a timely update of the scientific evidence.

Plus: Pesticides forum - 15 years and still going strong.

'Driftcatcher' pilot with smallholders in Senegal
In 2010 PAN Africa started an air sampling project with villagers in the main vegetable growing zone of Senegal, to test whether spray drift was affecting families living close to cultivated fields. Marie Suzanne Traore reports on the results.

News: Olympics sponsorship row; and 'Big 6' agro companies indicted

Controlling pesticide poisoning in Lake Eyasi Basin, Tanzania
Strategies to increase farmers' capacity to farm sustainably and productively can greatly enhance both public health and profits. Vera Ngowi reports how a project to raise awareness of pesticide hazards in the Lake Eyasi Basin in Tanzania succeeded in improving the livelihoods of the communities involved.

Italy's neonicotinoid bans help bees
Italy introduced a ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on maize in 2008 in response to concerns that they were behind worrying declines in bee populations. Three years later and bee populations are recovering while maize yields are unaffected. Henrietta Christensen reports.

What are UK supermarkets doing about pesticides?
Supermarkets wield a huge amount of influence over growers, produce traders and consumers, including issues of pesticide use. PAN UK is often asked 'which UK supermarkets are the best on pesticides?'

European NGOs voice concern over CAP reform

Resources: Useful findings from African horticulture systems; film news