FOOD 2050

Europarl TV have just produced an interesting TV report, debating Europe’s pesticides and legislation.

Aspects of UK pesticides policy in the UK will require reconsideration after Mr Justice Collins allowed an application in the High Court from campaigner Georgina Downs for a review of current policy. She has argued that exposure to crop chemicals caused illness.

A frequently expressed concern is that the main potential losers from the proposed changes in pesticide rules might be various fruits and vegatables such as peas, cabbages and carrots.  The relatively small volumes of production might not justify the commercial effort to find replacement products. Although customarily referred to as ‘minor uses’ of plant protection products, they are important components of a healthy diet. Less well off consumers might particularly be affected by an increase in their price as a result of reduced availability of supply.

I stumbled across this informative website called Sense about Science. It’s a website set up by scientists who talk in plain English and help bridge the disconnect between ‘complicated’ science, and you and I going about our daily lives. I was particularly interested in a briefing document entitled Sense about science – making sense of chemical stories – A briefing for the lifestyle sector on misconceptions about chemicals. It’s not particularly about pesticides, but I think the approach and content gives a good perspective. It has been prepared for journalists and life-style commentators who write about chemicals in relation to our daily environment.