Book Reviews - Pesticides News No. 31
Top
25 pesticide companies
A new report from
Agrow gives details of the world’s top twenty-five agrochemical
companies, selected according to 1994 turnover. The report provides
general company information, details of agrochemical sales and products,
the research and development as well as investment strategies, interests
in biotechnology and any joint ventures. It lists the companies main
production sites, but does not give full details of chemicals synthesised
on each site.
Ciba-Geigy
retained its customary top ranking, and the 1994 share of the US$27,825
million market is divided between a dozen major companies, which
occasionally swap positions in the rankings. For many years, the tight
market for agrochemicals and the high research and development costs have
made mergers and take-overs the norm and a table in the report lists these
activities between 1990 and 1995, including a significant level of joint
venture activities as companies move into new markets such as China, or
collaborate to increase a joint market.
Biotechnology is increasingly a feature of agrochemical company interests
as companies seek to offer a broad range of ‘crop protection’ products.
AgrEvo, for example, “believes crop protection methods facilitated by
biotechnology could take a 10% market share by 2005.” Predictably,
many companies focus research into crop tolerance of their own active
ingredients. AgrEvo and BASF are arguing over whose patent has priority on
fenoxaprop-tolerant maize. AgrEvo has also developed glufosinate-tolerant
maize, rape, soybeans and beet. Bayer spent DM8 million on
biotechnological research in 1994, mainly directed towards
herbicide-tolerant varieties. Cyanamid is developing
imidazolinone-tolerant maize, wheat, canola, cotton, potatoes, sugar beet
and rice. Monsanto, still with 95% of the world’s share of glyphosate
sales despite the end of patent protection, is developing a range of
glyphosate-tolerant plants: soybeans, canola and cotton. Rhône-Poulenc has
a new line of bromoxynil tolerant cotton. Zeneca is developing transgenic
maize and oilseed rape tolerant to AgrEvo’s herbicide, glufosinate. Little
information is presented here on the biotech activities of the Japanese
companies.
There is some company research into
herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant crops. For example Bayer is
working on plants with improved resistance to pests and diseases, Ciba
appears to be mainly looking at transgenic plants resistant to insects,
diseases and viruses; Dow is researching insect-resistant maize; Monsanto,
insect-resistant plants—small grain cereals, potatoes and cotton. Some
scientists are concerned about the insect-resistant crops which work by
expressing Bt toxins, fearing this will create resistance to
Bt.
The interest of this publication lies in the
level of detail on each company, consistently presented to enable
comparisons.
Agrow’s Top 25, by Susan Watkins, PJB Publications, 18/20 Hill Rise, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6UA, Tel. +44 (0)181 948 3262, 254pp.
Soviet agricultural heritage
As the
structure of the USSR began to crumble at the end of the 1980s, the local
and western media gave the sensationalist impression that the country was
environmentally devastated. Visits by the Swedish Agricultural diplomat Bo
Libert to the regions did not confirm this. Clearly, environmental
problems facing agriculture were very serious, but the analysis of the
problem was weak. In this book, Libert attempts to assess these
factors.
Because they are so
graphic, the most obvious problems involve the aftermath of the Chernobyl
nuclear accident and the shrinking of the Aral Sea. Generally, soil
erosion and water management problems are very serious because of the
broader environmental worries.
Between 1960 and the
mid-1980s, intensive technologies were strongly promoted and the use of
pesticides increased seven-fold from a very low level. The quantity
applied per unit area differed enormously between regions and crops. In
1988 pesticide applied averaged 10.96 kg/ha in Georgia whilst in Russia
the amount was only 0.82 kg/ha. The average USSR usage per unit area
peaked at a level of 1.6 kg/ha which is equal to or below most western
European countries. During the 1990s, usage has declined quite
dramatically as fewer pesticides are imported and subsidies from central
authorities have decreased. The most serious pesticides problems have been
in the cotton growing areas of Central Asia. A staggering 54.6 kg/ha have
been used in some cotton growing areas of
Uzbekistan.
The control of food and water residues
exists in theory, but it is not working well. The facilities for chemical
analysis are sparse and generally only 30-40 active ingredients out of the
400 permitted can be analysed. Pesticides most regularly found in food
are, lindane, trichlorfon, DDT, parathion-methyl, 2,4-D and
mercury.
High residue levels have been found close
to the drainage outlets of rice irrigation systems. The Volga river and
bays of the Black and Caspian seas also contain high
levels.
In terms of hazardous use the book states
“as in the rest of the world, the pesticides used are becoming less
hazardous to humans. As an example, organochlorinated substances have been
replaced by organophosphorus substances and carbamates.” This statement
seems misplaced as most organophosphorus pesticides have higher acute
toxicities compared with organochlorine pesticides.
On the whole, the book provides a depressing read. Statements like:
“Application is another weak link, and pesticides do not end up where they
are supposed to because of low standard of equipment”, just add to the
misery. Nevertheless, a series of competent recommendations are put
forward with pesticides education, extension and research cited as the key
factors.
Bo Libert, The Environmental Heritage of Soviet Agriculture, CAB International, Sustainable rural development studies, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8DE, UK, +44 (0)1491 832111, No.2, 228pp. Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.
Bhopal–the inside story
This
remarkable book is written by a worker at the methyl isocyanate plant
which leaked to such devastating effect in Union Carbide’s Bhopal plant in
December 1984. He tells for the first time the inside story of what it was
like to work in the chemical plant. One eyewitness account includes the
worker Carbide falsely accused of causing the disaster by sabotage.
Chouhan provides a critique to show why Carbide’s sabotage theory is not
only incorrect, but slanders the workers in the Bhopal plant. The
book includes an essay by Claude Alvares with a year-by-year record of the
way in which the gas victims had to cope over the decade, and an essay by
Indira Jaising examining how the Indian legal system failed to give
justice to the victims.
Bhopal: the inside story, Carbide workers speak out on the world’s worst industrial disaster, T.R. Chouhan and others, The Other India Press, Goa, India, 1994; published in the US by Apex Press, CIPA, Suite 3C, 777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA; distributed in the UK by Jon Carpenter PO Box 129 Oxford OX1 4PH, pp 212. Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.
Birds
prefer organic
The British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO) and the Institute for Arable Crops Research (Rothamsted,
UK) have carried out a three-year study on the effect of organic farming
regimes on breeding and winter bird populations, funded by the Ministry of
Agriculture and WWF (UK). The study concludes that organic farms often
support higher densities of various bird species than conventional
farmland, especially in winter. There are three principal reasons: the
boundary features of many organic farms are beneficial to birds; the mixed
enterprises upon which organic farms are based offer birds diverse nest
sites and food resources; organic crop production generates richer food
resources for several species.
The Effect of Organic Farming Regimes on Breeding and Winter Bird Populations, Part 1, BTO, Thetford, Norfolk, November 1995, 11pp. Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.
Farming
foundation
This Sustainable Agriculture,
Food and Environment (SAFE) Alliance report reminds us that there is more
to agriculture than the production of the greatest amount of food at the
least cost. Farmers must run their business in an economic manner to
produce healthy food, but must also be assisted with policies that pay due
regard to animal welfare and the environment.
Farming Foundations, an assessment of
UK farming policies, suggests that reform of the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) should involve a simplification of the plethora of support
schemes and the continued maintenance of a range of farm sizes and
activities. This can be achieved through the targeted support of: small
and medium sized farmers; those in marginal areas; and those who farm in a
more environmentally friendly way.
Tracey Clunies Ross and Stuart Turner, Farming Foundations: Policies to support a diverse UK farming system, SAFE Alliance, 38 Ebury Street, London SW1W 0LU, Tel. 0171 823 5600, Fax 0171 823 5673, December 1995, 40pp.
Safe food
for all – the consumer agenda
Why is there
hunger in the world when food supplies are adequate to feed the existing
population? Food contains residues of pesticides, antibiotics and chemical
additives, can it be made safer without threatening health? How much does
advertising influence our food choices? Do food industry advertisements
really promote healthy eating and nutritious food? Who will profit from
developments in biotechnology, consumers or corporations? Can sustainable
agriculture be developed which protects the environment and consumers and
which promotes an active rural population providing fair prices to
farmers?
Safe Food for All: the consumer agenda, Consumers International, 24 Highbury Crescent, London N5 1RX (or any regional office), 50pp.
Pesticide developments in
the UK
The chapters of this book,
consisting of papers presented at a recent symposium, cover a wide range
of UK oriented pesticide topics. They show how diverse pesticides have
become in our society. Papers cover the major issues of pesticide residues
in food, drinking water, groundwater, environmental fate, from the
perspective of government, academics and industry. Some more specific
subjects include an assessment of operator exposure from organophosphorus
(OP) sheep dips. Whilst agreeing that occupational exposure to OPs does
occur, no attempt to interpret the health effects is made. Pesticide usage
in marine fish farming and pesticide loading in the North Sea are also
covered. Unfortunately the book lacks a unifying chapter summarising the
overall impact of all these pesticide topics.
Pesticides—developments, impacts and controls, Royal Society of Chemistry, Turpin Distribution, Blackhorse Road, Letchworth, Herts, SG6 1HN, UK, Tel. +44 (0)462 672 555, October 1995, 180pp.
Fumigants in the soil
This review
looks at types of nematode pests, control techniques and the size of
markets and the companies operating in those markets. This is a timely
subject in view of the likely restrictions on methyl bromide. Many of the
alternative fumigants and nematicides are reviewed—fumigants are presently
not included in the WHO Classification of Hazards, and there is increasing
concern about their generally high toxicity and danger to applicators. The
non-chemical alternatives to conventional nematicides are also
examined.
Francis A. Williams, Products and Opportunities in Nematode Control, Agrow Report, DS 108, PJB Publications, as above, 108pp.
Fumigants
in the sky
Ten years ago, the Vienna
Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was agreed, and in 1978
the parties agreed the Montreal Protocol to cut down production and use of
some of the chemicals that destroy ozone. In December 1995, a complete
phase out by 2010 was agreed. This US GAO Report, released at the same
time, confirms that the US will phase out production and use by 2001 as
mandated by its Clean Air Act. However, the Environmental Protection
Agency will seek amendments to this Act to permit exemptions where there
are no viable economic alternatives.
Pesticides: the phaseout of methyl bromide in the United States, US General Accounting Office Report, (ref: GAO/RCED-96-16), December 1995, 41 pp.
NGOs—strengths and weaknesses
The
last decade has seen significant changes in international development and
the status of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Not only has the
number of NGOs nearly doubled, many of them have seen a considerable
growth in their budgets, and have grown closer to governments and official
agencies. NGOs are acknowledged by many to be more effective agents of
development than governments or commercial interests—even as a ‘magic
bullet’ for development problems.
Despite these positive trends, the real
impact of the NGO sector is not well documented. This is partly because
NGOs are caught up increasingly in the world of official aid, which pushes
them towards certain forms of evaluation at the expense of others. This
book takes a hard and critical look at these issues. Contributors from a
broad cross-section of relevant organisations and research units explore a
range of alternative methods and approaches to increase NGO effectiveness.
In particular, they look at ways in which NGOs can demonstrate and account
for their success and failures.
Earthscan, 120 Pentonville Road, London N1 9BR, UK, Tel. +44 (0)171 278 0433, Fax +44 (0)171 278 1142, 1996, 259 pp.
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Sustainable development
‘Sustainable
development’ is the catch phrase of the 1990s. Governments around the
world, international institutions, local organisations and NGOs have
committed themselves to its principles and have adopted policies to
promote it. But sustainable development is difficult to define—let alone
implement—and its proponents and advocates may all interpret it in very
different ways.
This guide
provided by David Reid of Edinburgh University gives an overview of the
history of the concept and how its has evolved in recent years, describes
the obstacles to achieving sustainable development, and looks at recent
progress towards implementing it—and at how much we have still to
do.
David Reid, Sustainable Development: An introductory guide, Earthscan, 120 Pentonville Road, London N1 9BR, UK, Tel. +44 (0)171 278 0433, Fax +44 (0)171 278 1142, October 1995, 261pp. Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.
Exposure
assessment
This report from the government
body Worksafe Australia reviews current pesticide application technology,
and the assessment methods of respiratory and dermal exposures to those
using pesticides professionally. The report identifies a number of
deficiencies in previous exposure studies. It also provides the technical
basis for the development of a larger scale project in predictive exposure
modelling. The properties and behaviour of airborne dusts and mists are
outlined and the roots of pesticide inhalation exposure are ranked
according to hazard. The rationale for dermal exposure assessments are set
out which include: biological monitoring; skin wiping and washing; glove
contamination; dermal exposure pads; general garment sampling and
direct-reading methods based on fluorescence.
Anthony Findlay, The assessment of respiratory and dermal exposure to pesticides: A review of current practice. Worksafe Australia, Australian Government Publishing Service, GPO Box 84, Canberra, ACT 2601, October 1995, 68pp.
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Environmental fate
Environmental
Behaviour of Agrochemicals is a technical assessment of the relative
potential for pesticides to contaminate soil, air and water. Emphasis is
placed on the methods for assessing the movement of pesticides into
groundwater from a variety of perspectives. An in-depth overview is given
of recent developments in the use of computer simulation models for
assessing the environmental fate of pesticides.
T.R. Roberts and P.C. Kearney (Eds.), Environmental behaviour of agrochemicals, Progress in pesticide biochemistry and toxicology, Vol. 9, 1995, John Wiley, Baffins Lane, Chicester, PO19 1UD, UK, Tel. +44 (0)1243 779 777, 407pp. Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.
IPM for
Yemen potatoes
Potato production, at some
300 million tonnes per year, is the second most widely cultivated crop in
the world after maize. It is grown in over 140 countries, more than 100 of
which are in the tropics or sub-tropics, although only one third comes
from developing countries.
This
book provides a detailed examination of integrated pest management in one
such Third World country, the Yemen, where potatoes have been grown
in the highlands for the last 20 years. Improvements in cultivation
suggested by a Yemen-German team include: use of health seed potatoes;
sensible storage practice and; monitoring of the crop to enable timely and
effective control of potato blight. The product currently used for the
control of the potato tuber moth, Sumicidin (fenvalerate), which has a
broad spectrum of activity, should be replaced by products which are less
harmful to beneficial insects and operators, such as Dimilin
(diflubenzuron) and Insegar (fenoxycarb).
Jürgen Kroschel, Integrated pest
management in potato production in the Republic of Yemen, HTZ, Margraf
Verlag, PO Box 105, 97985 Weikersheim, Germany, 227pp.