Herbicides Essential to Future of U.S. Crop Production; More Benefits Highlighted at CropLife America/RISE Conference

4/24/2002

From: Pat Getter of CropLife America, 202-872-3893; e-mail: pgetter@croplifeamerica.org

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Herbicides are essential to the future of U.S. crop production, an agriculture research expert revealed at "Doing a World of Good," the CropLife America/RISE April 9-10 conference on the benefits of pesticides and crop technology here.

Leonard Gianessi with the National Center for Food & Ag Policy has concluded that without herbicides -- the most widely used class of pesticides in the United States -- crop production and yield would drop, pristine habitat would have to be plowed under for crop acreage, additional cultivation would result in more soil erosion and ultimately the United States would become dependent on imports -- meaning the end of a viable U.S. crop market with consumers forced to pay higher prices for less abundant and less nutritious food.

"The implications of not using herbicides are significant," he said. "The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that without herbicides, carrot production would drop by 48 percent, rice by 38 percent, tomatoes by 36 percent, strawberries by 30 percent and cotton by 27 percent."

Based on his research, Gianessi also has concluded that herbicides provide more effective, cheaper control of weeds with less crop damage than non-chemical alternatives; herbicide use has contributed substantially to increased crop production; and herbicide alternatives pose environmental and human safety risks. The full study -- including data on insecticides and fungicides -- on the "Benefits of Pesticides in U.S. Crop Production" will be available this fall.

Several speakers echoed the benefits of pesticides and crop technology at the CropLife America/RISE conference. Among them was keynoter George McGovern, recently retired U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome. The former senator and presidential candidate credited the Green Revolution -- the application of science to agriculture -- with saving 12 million square miles from being plowed under, "permitting us to save other land for Mother Nature."

McGovern will join 1970 Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug and Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore as initial co-signers of a "Declaration in Support of Protecting Nature with High-Yield Farming and Forestry" on April 30 at a news conference at the National Press Club.

Dennis Avery of the Virginia-based Hudson Institute, Center for Global Food Issues, which is hosting the declaration signing, told the audience that the aim is to highlight the critical requirement to produce more food from existing farmland. "We need to remind America's mostly urban policymakers that higher farm yields represent the world's greatest humanitarian triumph and the world's greatest conservation accomplishment," he said. Avery noted that they were not recommending any technology or rejecting any farming system in order to accomplish critically needed high-yield practices.

On the urban side of crop technology and public health, University of Mississippi Medical Center entomologist Jerome Goddard reminded attendees how pesticides protect us from debilitating, disfiguring and often fatal diseases transmitted by common insects, such as mosquitoes and ticks.

As an outcome of the two-day conference, CropLife America and RISE are forming a network to partner with agriculture and urban use allies to share benefits research and to promote the benefits of pesticides and crop technology.

"We are recharged, energized and reminded that our products do 'a world of good,' from our impact on food consumption, to protecting the environment and safeguarding public health," said Jay Vroom, president of CropLife America. "The conference is just the beginning of how our industry will continue to see and promote itself from this day forward."

For photos, contact Debi Vaught, 202-872-3870 or dvaught@croplifeamerica.org

--- Established in 1933, CropLife America (formerly the American Crop Protection Association) represents the developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the United States. CropLife America member companies produce, sell and distribute virtually all the crop protection and biotechnology products used by American farmers.

RISE is the national association representing the manufacturers, formulators, distributors and other industry leaders involved with pesticide products used in turf, ornamental, pest control, aquatic and terrestrial vegetation management and other non-food/fiber applications.