Book reviews - Pesticides News No 56

African experiences in natural pest control
This book attempts to redress the balance in pest control in the Sudano-Sahelian region of Africa, from chemical pest control interventions back towards natural and biological controls. Aimed at farmers, community leaders, NGOs and extension agents, it is very practical and clear (with extensive illustrations), and offers guidelines and advice on pests, their natural predators and how to control them for a wide range of crops. 
    The first section of the book looks at the different types of pest, and how to identify both pest damage, and the points at which pest damage requires intervention. This section also briefly touches on the problems linked to chemical pesticides. 
    The next section looks at natural and integrated pest control solutions. It introduces the basic principles of pest-free agriculture, and the principal means by which the risk of pest outbreaks can be avoided. This section contains detailed advice for different pests and different crops. Many of the recommended methods use ingredients commonly available on farms, such as cowpats, garlic sprays, neem extract, peppers, etc. 

Abou Thiam (ed.) Elements pour la lutte integrée contre les ennemis des cultures en Afrique soudano-sahelienne, PAN Africa: Dakar, 2001, 207p. For more information and copies of this publication, contact: PAN Africa, BP 15938 Dakar-Fann, Sénégal, panafrica@pan-africa.sn

Above: life cycle of a moth, right: lanterns for attracting pests away from plants. Illustrations from the book.

Order direct from Amazon.co.uk

Sustainable solutions in Cuba
After the ‘triumph of the revolution’ in 1959 Cuba followed the rest of the world into the Green Revolution. It developed an agriculture based on high inputs and mechanisation, for example stipulating for each crop which chemicals to spray, at which dosage, and when, based on calendarised applications.
    However by the mid 1970s concern about the appearance of new pests, pesticide resistance, and the lowering populations of natural enemies stimulated the formation of the State Plant Protection System. In its first year the system reduced imported pesticide usage by half. By 1982 Integrated Pest Management was the official state policy.
    It was partly this foundation that allowed the country to adjust rapidly to the new situation following the collapse of the Soviet Block in 1990, leading to the nation-wide system of sustainable and organic agriculture that exists today. A clear example of the Cuban style of agriculture is its sugarcane industry. Cuba has an environment particularly well suited to the growth of sugar, and sugarcane has been an integral aspect of Cuban history, culture and tradition. During the Soviet era the industry was protected from the world price through purchases by the Soviet Block, but following 1990 Cuba was subject to the low world price.
    To make the production more economical many measures are taken to grow sugarcane as efficiently as possible. The straw is left on the fields, immediately reducing herbicide use by 35 – 50% and soil preparation by a third through inhibited weed growth, the retention of moisture and reduced erosion. No synthetic insecticides are used at all; instead natural predators are encouraged to control pests such as the sugarcane borer. There is also a continual selection programme of insect and disease resistant varieties, with local varieties taking up 92% of those used.
    The holistic approach continues off the fields too: cane by-products fuel the processing plants, what were formally polluting left overs are used as fertiliser, and other parts are used as animal feed. This helps close the loop between the cane field, processing industry and the livestock production.
    The book includes many other equally detailed case studies, as well as looking at the background to the agricultural revolution and looks comprehensively at the alternative agricultural practises used.

Fernando Funes, Luis Garcia, Martin Bourque, Nilda Perez and Peter Rosset (eds), Sustainable agriculture and resistance: Transforming Food Production in Cuba, Food First Books, Distributed by LPG Group, 193 Edwards Drive, Jackson, TN 38305, Canada, +1 800 343 4499, 320pp, 15 January, 2002, www.foodfirst.org/cuba/   Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.

Bhopal legacies
A paper in the latest edition of Environment & Urbanization discusses the Bhopal gas tragedy, the inadequacies of the corporate response, and the health concerns that continue to plague the people of Bhopal. 
    In December 1984, Union Carbide Corporation’s (UCC) Bhopal plant suffered the worst industrial accident on record. The article estimates that over 20,000 people have died from gas exposure since 1984, with some 120,000 chronically ill survivors. Although UCC alleged to have safety devices within the plant, the article points to many that were either disconnected (the refrigeration unit), not operating (caustic-soda scrubber and flare tower) or turned off (pilot flame of the flare tower). Prosecutors brought charges of manslaughter, grievous assault, and other offenses against the corporation and its chairman. After years of delay, UCC settled with the Indian government without consultation of the victims. 
    Severe health effects continue to plague the victims. Health effects include a rise in cancers, tuberculosis, reproductive system problems, and other problems such as growth retardation among children born after the disaster. UCC continues to down play the health affects and claim as confidential business information numerous studies on the health effects of methyl isocyanate. The article discusses how lack of information has led to misdiagnosis and treatment of the Bhopal victims. 
    To assist the victims and compensate for the shortfall of corporate assistance, the Sambhavna Trust provides medical care, health education, and information dissemination to victims. Contributions have come from all over the world, and in particular the United Kingdom. The Sambhavna Trust engages in research on the treatments for gas exposure, causes of death, and effects of alternative therapies.
    This well documented article illustrates the lack of corporate accountability that often occurs in industrial accidents and shows how an independent health clinic is making a difference to those suffering in Bhopal.

Barbara Dinham with Satinath Sarangi, The Bhopal gas tragedy 1984 to ? The evasion of corporate responsibility, Environment & Urbanization, Volume 14, Number 1, April 2002.

Non-agricultural market
The global market for non-crop pesticides has been growing at 4-5% a year since 1992 and is expected to continue growing at about 5% a year for the next 10 years. The estimated global market for non-crop pesticides in 1999 was $13,000 million. This latest report from Agrow explores the performance of this market.
    The report surveys 16 individual country markets by looking at sales by each sector for 1999. A total of 468 different active ingredients were reported used. Herbicides were the most important category of non-crop pesticide sales with $1,036.4 million of sales. Insecticides and fungicides accounted for $994.9 million and $431.8 million respectively. Almost all sales came from just 24 active ingredients. Many of the chemicals among the top 10 selling active ingredients are older pesticides whose use may be restricted in the future. These include active ingredients such as chlorpyrifos, which Dow AgroSciences has agreed to withdraw for some uses and methyl bromide, which is to be phased out under the Montreal protocol. New active ingredients such as insect growth regulators are expected to make greater inroads into the market with the likely withdrawal of older products. Unsurprisingly, the US is the largest country in terms of non-crop pesticides with a total of $1,419.4 million in sales. Turf sector products account for 45% of the market. Interestingly, one of the reasons for the market’s success is down to good advertising. Whilst there is little advertising for non-crop pesticides in Europe, in the US the sector attracts advertising budgets comparable with other fast-moving consumer goods.
    Several pages are devoted to analysis of the UK market, which is one of the heaviest users of pesticides due to dense population and a high rainfall that promotes weed growth. The UK non-crop pesticide market was worth $51.5 million in 1999. Amenity use of herbicides on roads accounted for $12.9 million of sales. When one compares the use of herbicide per km of road, the UK is the most important market having a spending of $34.72 per km per year in contrast to Germany, which spent only $0.32 per km. There is also high demand in the turf sector, where fungicides made up 55.8% of sales, mainly for use on golf courses. 
    The report also profiles some of the major suppliers of non-crop pesticides. Agrochemical companies continue to dominate the non-crop sector. More than 90% of the active ingredients used in the non-crop sector originate from agrochemicals. The top ten companies control more than half of the 16 country markets surveyed. With the trend towards mergers and acquisitions, these are now becoming concentrated in the hands of a few players. This is a reflection of the nature of the market. Home and garden products require special marketing and distribution and so there is a need to form entities large enough to justify penetrating advertising campaigns. While some companies have decided to exit the non-crop sector, others such as Bayer and Scotts have consolidated their position. With the increasing expansion of markets outside the US, the non-crop sector is predicted to develop and further drive market growth.

Agrow Reports, World Non-Agricultural Pesticide Markets: 2nd edition, Agrow Reports, PJB Publications, 18/20 Hill Rise, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6UA, Tel +44 (0)20 8410 2870, Fax +44 (0)20 8332 8995, Email: agvet.reports@pjbpubs.com, 2002, £795, 173pp. Agrow offers its reports at half price to non-profit organisations.www.agrowreports.com

Methyl bromide phase-out options

Training farmers in alternatives
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) have produced a manual for training farmers and extension workers in alternatives to methyl bromide. The manual provides an overview of the steps required for conducting comprehensive training on new alternatives. The manual focuses on training two particular groups – trainers and farmers.
    The Training of Trainers programme focuses on basic crop management skills and non-formal educational principles. This includes training in agro-ecosystem analysis, testing of new alternatives, and the main elements of integrated pest management (IPM). The manual contains an outline of how the training should proceed including basic field experiments and concept specific learning activities. 
The second training programme outlined in the manual involves setting up Farmer Field Schools. These schools are aimed at training farmers on new alternatives to methyl bromide and on implementing IPM. The manual recommends that the training programs include an assessment of methyl bromide use and consumption, farmer’s awareness and knowledge, and alternatives that should be taught. 
    The manual includes examples of exercises for Training of Trainers and Farmer Field Schools. These include exercises directed at better understanding soil systems, assessing soil borne arthropods, and assessment of weed stands. Finally, the manual includes a brief overview of the main alternatives currently available to methyl bromide. The alternatives are divided into non-chemical alternatives, such as cultural practices and physical control, and chemical alternatives, such as fumigants and fungicides. 

R Braga, L Labrada, L Fornasari, and N Fratini, Manual for training of extension workers and farmers – Alternatives to methyl bromide for soil fumigation, Energy and OzonAction Unit, United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome 2001. 
Order direct from Amazon.co.uk.

Validated alternatives
The FAO produced a report on alternatives to the use of methyl bromide in soil fumigation. The report examines several alternatives currently being used or studied in various world regions with the goal of providing an international overview on successfully used alternatives. FAO compiled the report to assist agricultural researchers and extensionists in further studies and/or validation. The report may also be used as a reference for training farmers on new alternatives used in different countries. 
    The report consists of several sections, divided by geographical regions – Latin America (Argentina and Brazil), North America (Florida, US), Southern Europe (Spain and Italy), Asia (Japan), and Africa (Kenya and Morocco). Each article discusses alternatives that are being used or studied, the crops such alternatives are used for, and a discussion of the effectiveness of the alternative. The alternatives examined included biofumigation, crop rotation, IPM, and other fumigants.

R Labrada and L Fornasari (Ed.) Global report on validated alternatives to the use of methyl bromides for soil fumigation, FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 166, Energy and OzonAction Unit, United Nation Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome 2001.

New technologies for floriculture
The UNEP published a guide for commercial flower growers discussing alternatives to using methyl bromide in cut flower production. The purpose of the report is to provide growers, trainers, and technical assistants with useful information on alternatives to methyl bromide. Rather than a general discussion of methyl bromide alternatives, the report provides a specific discussion directed towards cut flower production. 
    The report includes a detailed analysis of IPM, including examples and suggestions for its actual implementation in commercial flower production. Other alternatives discussed include soil sterilization, composting of plant residues as a way to reduce the need of soil disinfestations, and cultivation on soil-less substrates. The discussion of the various alternatives is very detailed, including a discussion of the steps and materials necessary to implement the alternative. 
    UNEP also includes an appendix with useful reference materials. These include citations to manuals and documents published by UNEP on phase out of methyl bromide, websites with information on alternatives, and other relevant publications. 

Floriculture and the Environment – Growing Flowers without Methyl Bromide, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, OzonAction Programme, 39-43, Quai André Citroën – 75739 Paris Cedex 15 France, email: ozonaction@unep.fr – Tel: +33 1 44 37 14 50, Fax: +33 1 44 37 14 74.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 56, June 2002, pages 22-23]