The health and environmental cost of pesticides
Pesticides are used internationally primarily as a means to control weed and pest populations, but often they’re criticised for doing more harm than good.
In Sri Lanka, the widespread use of chemical pesticides in agriculture can partially be attributed to the fact that they’re subsidised by the government, leaving many farmers feeling pressured to use them even if they wish to undertake more organic practices.
However, ongoing research conducted by Finbarr Horgan, a Research Fellow from the University of Technology Sydney, has found the crop yield on farms that use pesticides are no better than those that don’t use them, and that they’re a greater cost not just environmentally, but also on the health of farmers.
Speakers:
- Finbarr Horgan – Research Fellow in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney.
Producer: Jake Morcom.
