Introduction The harmful environmental effects of the industrial agricultural system have inspired multiple technological innovations to manage the issue. The agricultural drone is an example of such an innovation that appears to have the potential[…]
Author: Yanyong
Agrochemicals and climate change
Introduction What is the role of agrochemicals in the climate crisis? This is a loaded question because of the complexities of climate change and food security. Many negative environmental impacts are associated with agrochemical use.[…]
Impact pathways between rodenticides and non-target species
Introduction While the main goal of rodenticides is to eliminate rodent populations, they can also bring about unintended effects on non-target species. Rodenticides are targetted at 3 main rodent species: the black rat (Rattus rattus),[…]
The history of rodenticides
Rats are persistent pests with a long history of causing problems in human society. In agriculture, these pests cause problems by feeding on crops and acting as a vector for diseases, which can lead to[…]
Why do we need rodenticides?
Rat and mice infestations are common in places with abundant food. Unsurprisingly, farms and croplands are favourable sites for rodents. Therefore, it is common for farmers to use rodenticides to control rat populations. This post[…]
Instances where using PPE leads to higher exposure
Despite being an essential tool in reducing farmworkers’ exposure to agrochemicals, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) might not always be effective. A study by Garrigou et al. (2011) on using PPE in French vineyards showed that[…]
The over-emphasis on PPE in agriculture
In agriculture, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a major role in safeguarding the health of farmworkers due to the prevalence of hazardous agrochemicals. Most safety interventions in agriculture prioritise PPE use as a matter of[…]
The problem with agrochemical packaging in Vietnam
A major source of agrochemical pollution comes from agrochemical packaging. Agrochemical packaging is a form of hazardous waste because it contains traces of agrochemicals (Eras et al., 2017; Dang et al., 2021). The improper disposal[…]
Let’s talk about farmers’ health
Long-term exposure to harmful pesticides and fertilizers is a major concern amongst many food consumers. However, exposure to toxic substances is almost guaranteed for many farmworkers who handle these agrochemicals frequently. As a result, farmworkers[…]
How did we come to rely on agrochemcials?
Agrochemical use is highly prevalent in modern agriculture. How did the world become so reliant on chemical use for food production? The answer lies in the history and origins of the Green Revolution. Clapp’s (2011)[…]