Brazil Shown to Be Largest Global Consumer of Pesticides

[Bacchus4.0]

http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazil-is-largest-global-consumer-of-pesticides-shows-report/

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The use of pesticides in Brazil grew by more than 162 percent from 2000 to 2012, according to the latest report by the Brazilian Association of Collective Health (ABRASCO), making the country the number one consumer of pesticides in the world. According to the entity, the Brazilian agriculture sector purchased more than 823,000 tons of pesticides in 2012.

Brazil has become the largest consumer of pesticides in the world, photo courtesy of Agencia Brasil archives. “Since 2009 Brazil has taken over as the largest global consumer of agro-chemicals,” Paulo Petersen, director of the Brazilian Agro-Ecology Association (ABA), told Agencia Brasil news agency. “The consumption would equal 5.5 kilos per person per year,” he added.

The ABRASCO report, titled “An Alert of the Impacts of Pesticides on Health”, was released last week in Rio de Janeiro. The report includes scientific studies including data from the National Cancer Institute that shows a direct link between the use of pesticides and health problems.

According to APaulo Petersen the increase in the use of agro-chemicals is related to the expansion of mono-cultures of crops and genetically modified crops (GM). - See more at: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazil-is-largest-global-consumer-of-pesticides-shows-report/#sthash.Rm6Q1VYI.dpuf

[ag_dude]

1. GM crops don't increase pesticide use.

The last sentence doesn't clearly differentiate between pesticide and other agro-chemicals.

BT crops are developed specifically to reduce the use of pesticide.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. The story at the link makes mention of this

The idea was that GM seeds were more pest resistant reducing the need for pesticides but the Agro-ecology specialist they quoted said that pesticide use has increased instead.

[ag_dude]

3. There's something missing from the story.

Perhaps intentional, perhaps just because journalists have a tendency to not understand ag science issues.

There's nothing about BT or HT crops that creates a need for more pesticide use. Herbicide? Yes. Pesticide? No.

Implying a causality between the two isn't something that is supported by science.