Chemical Controversies
Pesticides are substances that prevent, destroy, repel, or reduce the severity of pests. Pests are living things that occur where they are not wanted or that cause damage to humans, crops, or animals. Pests can be insects, rodents, unwanted plants, bacteria, viruses, or different types of fungus. Pesticides can vary in how toxic they are to humans and the environment. Some are persistent in the environment, animals, and birds, lasting for years; others break down soon after they are released. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants licenses, or registrations, to pesticides that it has found do not pose unreasonable risks to human health and the environment; it has registered at least 865 pesticides, which are used in thousands of pesticide products.
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How CRISPR can protect berry crops from disease-carrying fruit flies — without pesticides
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Viewpoint: Using selective chemistry — Burdensome EU regulations prevent introduction of lower-impact agricultural pest control products
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Video: Do pest-resistant GM crops harm workers? Kenyan farmers say no, tout benefits of Bt cotton grown harvested in semi-arid region
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Viewpoint: Is US agriculture a toxic soup of factory farming, corporate greed and gene-altered crops? Debunking 10 myths that shape the narrative around modern agriculture
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Viewpoint: Mexico claims glyphosate and GM corn bans will increase ‘food sovereignty’. Here are the facts
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Following Europe’s lead, New York State is poised to ban most uses of neonicotinoid pesticides. Here’s why that will hurt consumers, farmers — and the environment
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Viewpoint: How the EPA deprives farmers of safe and effective pesticides by capitulating to environmental activist agendas
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Viewpoint: How Canadian activists are exploiting tort law to try to ban one of the safest herbicides available to farmers
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France sugar beet production hits 14-year low, analysts blame neonicotinoid pesticide ban
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Viewpoint: This guide should replace the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list of ‘chemical-soaked’ produce
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Viewpoint: Cure is worse than the alleged disease? Why New York’s proposed ban on neonicotinoid-coated seeds will lead to increased use of harmful pesticides
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5 influential activist NGOs spreading crop biotechnology misinformation in Latin America
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