The term pesticides means to get rid of pests and refers to all of these groups used on following crops. Corn, soybeans, potatoes, cotton, wheat, sorghum, oranges, peanuts, grapes, rice, apple, pecns and lemons.
Are chemicals such as pesticides used in agriculture safe???
There are several things to remember when it comes to the safety of chemicals in the society.
What do you think of when you hear the work chemicals?? In today’s society the word “chemicals” has been turned into something. We think of as harmful that we should stay away from some people are incredibly scared of chemical free life style. The truth is there is no way we can stay away from chemicals. They are everywhere chemicals make up the earth we live on, the air we breathe, the food we eat and the things we build. Every day you interact with thousands of chemicals. Even food in its most basic from is full of chemicals.
Chemicals are not inherently bad. Chemical can be used to do a lot of good in a lot of different places.
In agriculture we have used chemicals to help produce food more efficiently. But how do we know whether the chemical is good or bad for you??
The most toxic pesticides are no longer used. Agriculture has transitioned to using safer chemicals. Most used today have very low toxicity.
Pesticides use over?
• Herbicides
in 1960: 18% of pesticides
in 2008: 76% of pesticides
• Insecticides
in 1960: 58% of pesticides
in 2008: 6% of pesticides
• Fungicides: Approximately 7%
Pesticides are not dangerous it consumed at a low enough rate. Just because pesticides reside is detected in food, doesn’t mean that food is unfair.
If synthetic pesticides were truly causing all the things they have been claimed to causes cancer, disease, etc. Former’s would be having several health problems.
Benefits:
Increases yield potential allows a former to farm more acres, protects the soil through no-till and conservation methods.
Costs:
Weed resistance, grater pesticide use, large companies benefits environmental consumers.
Conclusion:
Farmers (both conventional and organic) must use pesticides in order to produce enough food to feed the world. Pesticides use peaked in the 1980’s and will continue to decline as farmers and scientists develop new and more effective methods.
Food is never 100% safe. Neither is life. We must continue to use chemicals to have a functioning society and feed a growing population.
