Presence of pesticides in the environment, transition into organic food, and implications for quality assurance along the European organic food chain – A review
The use of synthetic pesticides is not allowed in organic production, but traces of synthetic pesticides are regularly detected in organic food. To safeguard the integrity of organic production, organic certifiers are obliged to investigate the causes for pesticide residues on organic food, entailing high costs to the organic sector. Such residues can have various […]
Pesticides in conventional and organic farming – Fact check
Organic farming is not what it claims to be. Organic farmers also spray poisons – and not in short supply. Whether synthetic or natural is irrelevant. This is what the advocates of an industrial model of agriculture are increasingly claiming, thus damaging the reputation of organic farming. Reason enough for a fact check. The negative […]
Plant health care in organic farming – The role of natural substances in a biodiversity-based system approach
One of organic agriculture’s defining traits is its approach towards plant health care, relying mainly on preventive and indirect measures within the agroecosystem. As a last resort, organic farmers can combine these with direct measures, if these are based on the use of natural substances. The principles of organic agriculture seek to prevent the introduction […]
Pilot study of spray drift on small organic farms in Switzerland
Spray drift is a major problem for organic farmers, particularly in small fields (Speiser and Kretzschmar, 2021). To support the advocacy work of IFOAM Organics Europe concerning this issue, the present study was carried out.
Studio FIBL: Quale impatto ha la contaminazione ambientale da pesticidi sulla catena alimentare biologica?
Un’analisi del FiBL Svizzera sull’attuale letteratura scientifica ha dimostrato che i pesticidi sono ampiamente presenti nel suolo, nell’acqua e nell’aria e hanno il potenziale di contaminare i prodotti biologici. Queste vie di contaminazione devono essere tenute in considerazione quando si indaga sulla presenza di residui di pesticidi. L’uso di pesticidi sintetici non è consentito nella […]
How pesticides impact human health and ecosystems in Europe
Food production systems in Europe rely on chemical pesticides to maintain crop yields. However, widespread pesticide use is a major source of pollution — contaminating water, soil and air, driving biodiversity loss, and leading to pest resistance. Human exposure to chemical pesticides is linked to chronic illnesses such as cancer, and heart, respiratory and neurological […]
Organic sugar beet production and robotics use in France
Sugar beet cultivation is chemical-intensive. In 2017, the average number of pesticide treatments received by sugar beet crops in France was between five and six — which is more than most other crops (Agreste, 2019). Sugar beets need to be protected from weeds competing for resources and diseases transmitted by aphids; for example, the beet […]
Toxicological Comparison of Pesticide Active Substances Approved for Conventional vs. Organic Agriculture in Europe
There is much debate about whether the (mostly synthetic) pesticide active substances (AS) in conventional agriculture have different non-target effects than the natural AS in organic agriculture. We evaluated the official EU pesticide database to compare 256 AS that may only be used on conventional farmland with 134 AS that are permitted on organic farmland. […]
Organic Farming Lessens Reliance on Pesticides and Promotes Public Health by Lowering Dietary Risks
Organic agriculture is a production system that relies on prevention, ecological processes, biodiversity, mechanical processes, and natural cycles to control pests and maintain productivity. Pesticide use is generally limited or absent in organic agroecosystems, in contrast with non-organic (conventional) production systems that primarily rely on pesticides for crop protection. Significant differences in pesticide use between […]
Organic diet intervention significantly reduces urinary glyphosate levels in U.S. children and adults
A growing set of studies show that an organic diet is associated with reduced levels of urinary pesticide analytes. However, with the exception of one pilot study of two individuals, diet intervention studies to date have not analyzed glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in the United States and globally. The aim of the study […]
