Threats to the lives of smallholders in West Africa from the highly toxic fumigant phosphine (see page 4), and injurious episodes involving the organophosphate (OP) phorate in India (page 5) demonstrate the need for continued vigilance over chemical pesticides, especially in developing countries. Indigenous peoples of the Amazon are urgently calling for an end to the aerial spraying of herbicides in Colombia to destroy coca and poppy crops that go to make cocaine and heroin. In July a Bogotá newspaper reported that over 35,000 indigenous people had been made ill by the spraying.
Some optimistic signs are on the horizon. Agricultural workers are increasingly aware that pesticides are bad for their families and communities, and are asking about safer alternatives. IUF – the international food and agricultural workers union – is working with the Global IPM Facility to ensure that agricultural workers receive training in pest management that involves non-chemical means (page 15). Even with the increasing availability of non-chemical control it is likely many workers will have to use hazardous chemicals. So it was heartening that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) agreed a new Convention and Recommendation on safety and health in agriculture. For the first time waged agricultural workers will be afforded the same international levels of protection and rights guaranteed to other categories of work. The ILO Convention will undoubtedly assist countries like Vietnam and Tanzania featured in this issue of
Pesticides News.
The agrochemical market is a global business dominated by a few companies based in Europe and North America. But with mergers and takeovers, just seven companies now produce 80% of the global pesticide market – pesticide sales have declined slightly for the second year running in 2000 to $29.2 billion. Most companies see genetic engineering as their financial salvation: some companies predict the world market may reach $500 billion. These companies are reluctant to move into biological control products, with estimated annual sales a mere $160 million.
Public interest groups are urging governments to adopt the precautionary approach to chemical pesticide approval. Pesticides should be restricted if they pose a threat to human health or the environment in situations when cause and effect cannot be fully established. The actions of some retailers may be outpacing that of regulators. In the UK the Co-op has banned the use of 24 pesticides worldwide on crops it purchases, six of which are still legally permitted for use in the UK.
[This article first appeared in
Pesticides News No. 53, September 2001, page 2]