"Pests must be looked upon as nature's professors of agriculture: as an integral portion of any rational system of farming."
Sir Albert Howard, pioneering agriculturist, 1940
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Around 31,000 tonnes of chemicals are used in farming in the UK each year to kill weeds, insects and other pests that attack crops and, in 2004, 40% of the fruit, vegetable and bread samples tested in the UK contained pesticides. There is very little control over how these chemicals are used in the non-organic sector and in what quantities or combinations. The Food Standards Agency recognises that most people do not want pesticides in their food. Pesticides have a devastating effect on the environment and there are real uncertainties about the effectiveness of official safety regulation of pesticides, and some risks to human health are unknown.
In organic farming, natural methods are used to control pests, weeds and disease. For example, developing a good soil and healthy crops which have natural resistance to pests and diseases, encouraging natural predators, and well-designed crop rotations.
Follow the links below to find out more:
Coalition condemns the Government on pesticides
A broad coalition of 14 organisations, including the Soil Association, have signed an open letter condemning the Government's policy on pesticides.
Government rejects demands to protect the public from pesticides
The Government has rejected key recommendations by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP), designed to protect the public from unnecessary risks of pesticides spraying, including a 'more precautionary approach' to pesticides and no-spray buffer zones. This announcement has been strongly condemned by the Soil Association and campaigners.
Pesticides in school fruit - a cause for concern?
New research by the Soil Association reveals that Government testing found 84% of samples of school fruit and vegetables contained pesticides - 25% more than samples of the same fruit and vegetables on sale in shops
Pesticides - get the facts
Find out more about pesticides and how much they are used
What's your poison?
Read the Soil Association guide to pesticides in popular food
Links
You can find out more about pesticides from the following links.
Co-operative Bank backs Soil Association
The ethical Co-operative Bank put its money where its mouth is and pledged money towards our pesticides campaign. As one of the bank's chosen charities for 2004 we received a share of the money the bank donated to charity through its Customers Who Care campaign.