Agro-chemicals are used to combat a problem with plants and insects that devastate crops. However, there is an emerging resistance of super weeds and now, super insects. More chemicals mean more destruction but what exactly are the alternatives? Could this also be a push for a new breed of agro-technology?

In this special series called “The Neonicotinoid View”, hosts, June Stoyer and Tom Theobald will talk to Dr. Charles Benbrook, about the emerging resistance to agro-chemicals to plant and insect pests to agro-products containing the glyphosate and systemic pesticides.

 

Dr. Charles Benbrook worked in Washington, D.C. on agricultural policy, science and regulatory issues from 1979 through 1997. He served for 1.5 years as the agricultural staff expert on the Council for Environmental Quality at the end of the Carter Administration. Following the election of Ronald Reagan, he moved to Capitol Hill in early 1981 and was the Executive Director of the Subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture with jurisdiction over pesticide regulation, research, trade and foreign agricultural issues. In 1984 Benbrook was recruited to the job of Executive Director, Board on Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences, a position he held for seven years. Several influential NAS reports were done in this period on the need for and aspects of sustainable agriculture. In late 1990 he formed Benbrook Consulting Services. Chuck has written many reports, books, and peer reviewed articles on agricultural science, technology, public health, and environmental issues.  Stay tuned!