The Pesticide Question
Encyclopedia
The Pesticide Question: Environment, Economics and Ethics is a 1993 book edited by David Pimentel and Hugh Lehman. The book argues that modern agriculture
cannot completely do without synthetic chemicals, but that it is technologically possible to reduce the amount of pesticide
s used in the United States by 35-50 per cent without reducing crop yields.
The Pesticide Question builds on the 1962 best-seller Silent Spring
by Rachel Carson
. Carson did not reject the use of pesticides, but argued that their use was often indiscriminate and resulted in harm to people and the environment. She also highlighted the problem of pests becoming resistant to pesticides.
Carson's work is referred to many times in The Pesticide Question, which critically explores many non-technical issues associated with pesticide use, mainly in the United States. The book has 40 contributors, mainly academics from a wide range of disciplines. The Pesticide Question is divided into five main parts:
Modern agriculture
Modern agriculture may refer to:*Agribusiness*Industrial agriculture*Intensive farming*Organic farming*Sustainable agriculture...
cannot completely do without synthetic chemicals, but that it is technologically possible to reduce the amount of pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s used in the United States by 35-50 per cent without reducing crop yields.
The Pesticide Question builds on the 1962 best-seller Silent Spring
Silent Spring
Silent Spring is a book written by Rachel Carson and published by Houghton Mifflin on 27 September 1962. The book is widely credited with helping launch the environmental movement....
by Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson
Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement....
. Carson did not reject the use of pesticides, but argued that their use was often indiscriminate and resulted in harm to people and the environment. She also highlighted the problem of pests becoming resistant to pesticides.
Carson's work is referred to many times in The Pesticide Question, which critically explores many non-technical issues associated with pesticide use, mainly in the United States. The book has 40 contributors, mainly academics from a wide range of disciplines. The Pesticide Question is divided into five main parts:
- social and environmental effects of pesticides;
- methods and effects of reducing pesticide use;
- government policy and pesticide use;
- history, public attitudes, and ethics in regard to pesticide use; and
- the benefits and risks of pesticides.