March 22, 2023

GLP podcast and video: EWG’s ‘Dirty Dozen,’ debunked; On pesticides, trust experts, not ideologues; Ukraine war derails EU’s Farm-To-Fork proposal

35 minutes

It's the time of year when Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out its much-ballyhooed "dirty dozen" list of fruits and vegetables that are supposedly contaminated with pesticides. Experts continue to stress that EWG's analysis is mistaken and needlessly scares consumers. Speaking of which, any time you look for facts about pesticides, be sure to get your info from hands-on experts, not ideologues. Europe's Farm-To-Fork plan (F2F) was poised to boost the EU's organic food production and slash its fertilizer and pesticide use. The war in Ukraine has brought those plans to a halt.

Podcast:

Video:

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 210 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* 99.8%: Rebuffing Environmental Working Group’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ pesticide claims, EPA says almost all fruits and vegetables are safe

Despite EWG's claims about the dangers of pesticides, independent experts and regulators continue to insist that America's food supply is among the safest in the world. There is simply no evidence to suggest that trace amounts of pesticides on your produce can pose a health risk. Let's examine just how extensively officials at the EPA, FDA and USDA investigate the chemicals that farmers are allowed to use.

* Viewpoint: Concerned whether pesticides in the environment are safe? Listen to hands-on experts, not ideologues

Claims that pesticides pose a severe threat to human health and the environment are a dime a dozen. The problem is, most of these allegations come from people with ideological commitments that force them to oppose pesticide use. Talking to experts, who actually work with these chemistries, offers a much more balanced perspective. When pesticides are misused, they can indeed be very dangerous. When used as intended and with the proper safety protocols in place, pesticides play and important role in producing our abundant food supply.

Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

* How the war in Ukraine has derailed the European Union Farm to Fork initiative — and sparked debate about what constitutes sustainable agriculture

Ukraine is a major grain producer; Russia is one of the top producers of chemical fertilizer used in agriculture. With the ongoing war disrupting both countries' exports,

...more

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By Cameron English

4.2

2424 ratings