In our current world where A.I. is taking over and data is king; it comes as a surprise that the UK does not have accurate data on the pesticides that are being pumped into our environment. Having said that, it doesn’t come as a surprise to those of us who [...]
A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health shows that over 400 million of the world’s farmers and farmworkers suffer from acute pesticide poisoning annually. This total excludes the 84 million children working in global agriculture who are even more vulnerable to toxic chemicals than adults, as well as rural [...]
A coalition of 25 health, farming, trade, human rights and environmental organisations from around the world, including Parkinson's UK, The Wildlife Trust, the Central American Institute of Research on Toxic Substances (IRET), Trade Justice Movement and the Landworkers’ Alliance have signed an open letter calling on Sainsbury's to ban paraquat. [...]
A new report published by UNICEF earlier this week finds that the rapid global expansion of pesticide use—more than doubling between 1990 and 2022—has far outpaced protections for children. Children are exposed to pesticides through food and water, use in homes, gardens, schools and public spaces. They also face exposure [...]
Fidra are an environmental charity working to prevent pollution and other harms to the environment through science-based solutions and collaborative systemic change. For almost a decade, Fidra has been investigating the impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), from their use in everyday consumer products such as food packaging and [...]
A new report reveals the widespread use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in coffee-producing countries. These include chemicals linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, reproductive harm, endocrine disruption, and catastrophic biodiversity loss. Poison in Your Coffee brings together scientific literature, government data and field research across Brazil, Vietnam, Kenya, Colombia, and other major [...]
Farmworkers around the world are being put at risk due to the use of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide (weedkiller). We’re calling on the UK’s second largest supermarket, Sainsbury’s, to end the use of paraquat in its global supply chains. Paraquat is responsible for poisoning thousands of farmworkers around the world. Repeated long-term exposure to [...]
by Sarah Compson, Head of Policy & Campaigns, PAN UK As someone with a high cake drive, I tend to be drawn to activities and events that might lead to the likes of a lemon drizzle, and that’s exactly how I first got involved with community weeding. The premise is [...]
By Catherine Whitehead, Senior Officer for Strategy - Connecting Children With Nature, Natural England School grounds have the potential to be far more than maintained outdoor spaces. When well-managed they can provide nature-rich environments that support wildlife, climate resilience, pupils wellbeing and learning, and local communities for years to come. [...]
by Jago Wadley, International Advocacy Manager This week, PAN UK will apply for membership of the new Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (GAHHPs). We encourage all relevant actors in agriculture and food systems to join this important new initiative and contribute to its success. Applications can be made via [...]
This year, 49 chocolate companies and retailers took part in the 7th edition of the Chocolate Scorecard. Between them, they cover roughly nine out of every ten cocoa beans in the global supply chain. They were assessed on eight themes: traceability and transparency, living income, child and forced labour, deforestation, agroforestry [...]
by Nick Mole, Policy Manager, PAN UK Earlier this year, CropLife, the trade body that represents the UK pesticide industry, published a report that exposed their goals to protect profits and resist regulations that might impact their sales. As proposed under the new UK-EU SPS agreement, the UK’s farmers, food [...]
Analysis of official government data – launched today by PAN UK – reveals that the amount of glyphosate being applied to UK crops has risen from 200 metric tonnes per year in 1990 to more than 2,200 tonnes in 2024. Major increases have been seen on a wide range of [...]
As Parliament prepares to debate the Water Reform Bill, PAN UK joins over 40 organisations - representing more than 9 million supporters collectively – calling on the UK Government to deliver urgent changes. Just 14% of English rivers are in Good Ecological Condition. Most water-dependent habitats in England’s protected [...]
A new study, launched today, has found residues of the weedkiller glyphosate and its toxic breakdown product – AMPA – in English playgrounds. PAN UK tested samples of soil and plant material and swabbed children’s play equipment in thirteen playgrounds across three English counties and two London boroughs. None of the [...]
A new study published in Frontiers in Agronomy, has found that training farmers in agroecological practices helps to protect them from the harmful impacts of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). It also increases their income. Over 700 vegetable farmers in Ethiopia’s Lake Ziway region took part in a programme to promote agroecology [...]
Powerful commercial actors and the actions they take, affect us all, every day of our lives – many are undermining our health, our choices as individuals and the sustainability of the planet. They shape what we see, eat, and do. There is overwhelming evidence that the actions of many commercial [...]
An inflatable pesticides container the size of a 5-story apartment block calls for the phase out of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) outside the venue of the COP30 climate negotiations in Belem, Brazil. It aims to highlight their role in heating the planet and poisoning the future. [...]
by Dr May van Schalkwyk, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention and the Global Health Policy Unit at the University of Edinburgh. *Warning: This article discusses suicidal behaviour. If you have questions on self-harm or feel suicidal, use this link to find an international helpline.* The study of [...]
Hello, I’m Ella, the ‘new’ Supermarkets Campaigner here at PAN UK. It’s been six months since I started this position – on one hand I can hardly believe it’s been that long and on the other it feels like I’ve been here forever. I remember the moment I got a [...]
