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Benefit/risk considerations in the use of pesticides

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  • Robert Metcalf

Abstract

The use of pesticides is one of the more controversial of public issues. This is so because their very widespread use produces immediate benefits to a small section of society, the agricultural industry, while the long term risks are shared by society as a whole. This discussion focuses on the contrast between benefits and risks and outlines some of the long term ecological problems that have resulted from the overuse, misuse, and injudicious use of pesticides. Detailed discussion is provided for such ecological disasters as insect pest resistance to pesticides, pest resurgences and the development of secondary pests; together with contamination of food webs and general ecotoxicity. It is concluded that implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) tactics provides the only practical answer to the manifold problems arising from the sole reliance on pesticides for pest control. IPM provides an ecological oriented strategy for pest control that can maximize the benefits of pesticide use and minimize the risks. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1987

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Metcalf, 1987. "Benefit/risk considerations in the use of pesticides," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 4(4), pages 15-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:4:y:1987:i:4:p:15-25
    DOI: 10.1007/BF01530498
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    Cited by:

    1. Valborg Kvakkestad & Åsmund Lægreid Steiro & Arild Vatn, 2021. "Pesticide Policies and Farm Behavior: The Introduction of Regulations for Integrated Pest Management," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Paul B. Thompson, 2023. "Richard Haynes and the early years of Agriculture and Human Values," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(1), pages 45-48, March.

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