ELIMINATING PARAQUAT WILL SAVE LIVES WITHOUT AFFECTING FOOD SECURITY

Paraquat has been responsible for thousands of deaths annually and is banned in over 67 countries. New research, led by Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) debunks the myth that paraquat is needed for agricultural productivity and food security, with scientists urging the listing of paraquat under the UN Rotterdam Convention.

The study, published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, compared United Nations crop production data covering six to eight years prior to, and following, paraquat bans in eleven countries. In nine of the countries, researchers identified no observable decline in aggregated crop yields or key individual crop yields following paraquat bans, and found yields increased in several countries. Combined with complementary literature reviews and consultations with voluntary industry sustainability standards, retailers and regulators, the study indicates that eliminating paraquat will save lives without reducing agricultural productivity or food security.

The research casts doubt on the justifications put forward by countries that have blocked the global community’s ability to better control imports of the pesticide under international law.

In June 2022, India, Argentina, Paraguay, Guatemala and Indonesia cited paraquat’s perceived importance to food security when opposing the chemical’s inclusion in Annex III of the UN’s Rotterdam Convention, preventing use of the agreement’s Prior Informed Consent Procedure, which helps countries to control imports of paraquat.

The research also found that integrated weed management techniques not involving paraquat are instrumental in ensuring strong yields in post-paraquat agricultural systems, including those used by over 1.25 million farmers working to voluntary sustainability standards that exclude use of paraquat.

Dr Sheila Willis, PAN UK, says: “Misconceptions and false narratives have prevented stronger regulation of one of the most harmful pesticides in international trade. Debunking the myths should help ensure paraquat is finally listed in Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention at the next Conference of Parties in May 2024. This does not mean a ban, but it will alert countries to paraquat coming into their country and help them to prevent it if they wish. We also hope that this evidence will support pesticide regulators to replace paraquat with safer alternatives”.