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The costs of human-induced evolution in an agricultural system

Author

Listed:
  • Alexa Varah

    (Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park)

  • Kwadjo Ahodo

    (Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park)

  • Shaun R. Coutts

    (University of Sheffield, Western Bank
    University of Lincoln)

  • Helen L. Hicks

    (University of Sheffield, Western Bank
    Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus)

  • David Comont

    (Biointeractions and Crop Protection Department, Rothamsted Research, West Common)

  • Laura Crook

    (Biointeractions and Crop Protection Department, Rothamsted Research, West Common)

  • Richard Hull

    (Biointeractions and Crop Protection Department, Rothamsted Research, West Common)

  • Paul Neve

    (Biointeractions and Crop Protection Department, Rothamsted Research, West Common)

  • Dylan Z. Childs

    (University of Sheffield, Western Bank)

  • Robert P. Freckleton

    (University of Sheffield, Western Bank)

  • Ken Norris

    (Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park)

Abstract

Pesticides have underpinned significant improvements in global food security, albeit with associated environmental costs. Currently, the yield benefits of pesticides are threatened as overuse has led to wide-scale evolution of resistance. Despite this threat, there are no large-scale estimates of crop yield losses or economic costs due to resistance. Here, we combine national-scale density and resistance data for the weed Alopecurus myosuroides (black-grass) with crop yield maps and an economic model to estimate resistance impacts. We estimate that the annual cost of resistance in England is £0.4 billion in lost gross profit (2014 prices) and annual wheat yield loss due to resistance is 0.8 million tonnes. A total loss of herbicide control against black-grass would cost £1 billion and 3.4 million tonnes of lost wheat yield annually. Worldwide, there are 253 herbicide-resistant weeds, so the global impact of resistance could be enormous. Our research supports urgent national-scale planning to combat resistance and an incentive for increasing yields through food-production systems rather than herbicides.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexa Varah & Kwadjo Ahodo & Shaun R. Coutts & Helen L. Hicks & David Comont & Laura Crook & Richard Hull & Paul Neve & Dylan Z. Childs & Robert P. Freckleton & Ken Norris, 2020. "The costs of human-induced evolution in an agricultural system," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 63-71, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0450-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0450-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Liqiang Yang & Xiaotong He & Shaoguo Ru & Yongyu Zhang, 2024. "Herbicide leakage into seawater impacts primary productivity and zooplankton globally," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Harkness, Caroline & Areal, Francisco J. & Semenov, Mikhail A. & Senapati, Nimai & Shield, Ian F. & Bishop, Jacob, 2023. "Towards stability of food production and farm income in a variable climate," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).

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