Pesticides are
Chemical inputs are largely used in agriculture
Pesticides are mostly known for their adverse effects and, therefore, have a mostly negative connotation when discussed among general audiences. However, one must also admit that the application of pesticides is vital for maintaining the growth of crops consistently. Still, due to the presence of residue in plants, measures for counteracting the harmful effects of pesticides must be introduced. The Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) is used as the means of assessing the level of threat (Hedlund et al. 2020).
Pesticide Use Benefits
The use of pesticides introduces quite a range of benefits for agriculture. Specifically, a rapid rise in the amount of produced food and the speed of its production deserve a mentioning as the positive core outcomes (Gomes et al. 2020). In relation to the specified effect, the one of an increase in the chances for human survival should be addressed as well. Specifically, enhanced production of crops and, therefore, a rise in the amount of manufactured food allows for addressing the hunger issue (Gomes et al. 2020). Finally, the productivity of the food industry rises with the introduction of pesticides.
Hazards of using pesticides
However, the use of pesticides is also linked to several issues. Specifically, pesticides affect ecosystems to which they are introduced, often disrupting them and, thus, causing an adverse change. Specifically, being incredibly toxic, pesticides pose a serious threat to the lives of numerous species of animals and birds, as well as insects that do not affect the crops negatively (Gomes et al. 2020). Furthermore, when mismanaged, pesticides may lead to fatal poisonings through water and groundwater, causing the deaths of numerous people (Hedlund et al. 2019).
How Environment Influenced Society
Furthermore, one must mention the connection between pesticides and the current export rates. Specifically, Hedlund et al. (2019) insist that export rates in agriculture increase stupendously with the application of pesticides as a means of controlling the adverse effects of insects infesting the crops. Furthermore, Hedlund et al. (2019) argue that the application of pesticides in wealthier countries has led to outsourcing tools allowing for better control over environmental issues to countries with a lesser range of opportunities and resources. Therefore, the use of pesticides could also be seen as one of the drivers behind global trade.
How Society Influenced Environment
Finally, one must mention that the use of pesticides is linked inherently to environmental concerns. Thus, it is the responsibility of farmers and companies globally to adopt innovative approaches to minimize the effects of pesticides on public health and the environment (Larsen et al. 2021). With the focus on research addressing the subject matter, improvements can be expected.
Did the Society Change under Human Influence?
One should point to the changes that society has undergone under the influence created by the consistent use of pesticides and the related tools for maintaining the rapid growth of crops. Firstly, and most obviously, the rising concern regarding the use of pesticides and the effects thereof should be mentioned as the core effect. In addition, the societal change toward a more sustainable use of pesticides and related chemicals can be listed as one of the core changes. However, the observed change should not have come at the price of numerous health issues occurring on a global scale due to the unreasonable use of pesticides.
Reference List
Gomes, Higaro de, Jorge Marcell C. Menezesac, José Galberto M.da Costaa, Henrique Douglas M.Coutinho. Raimundo Nonato P. Teixeiraa, and Ronaldo F. do Nascimento. 2020. “A socio-environmental perspective on pesticide use and food production.” Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 197, 110627–110627.
Hedlund, John, Stefano B. Longo,, and Richard York. 2020. “Agriculture, pesticide use, and economic development: A global examination (1990–2014).” Rural Sociology, 85 (2), 519–544.
Larsen, Ashley, Clay Powers, and Sophie McComb. 2021. “Identifying and characterizing pesticide use on 9,000 fields of organic agriculture.” Nature Communications, 12 (1), 5461–5461.