Tag: pesticides

Birds, beetles, bugs could help replace pesticides: study

Natural predators like birds, beetles and bugs might be an effective alternative to pesticides, keeping crop-devouring pests populations down while boosting crop yields, researchers said Wednesday. Pests are responsible for around 10 percent — or 21 million tonnes — of crop losses every year, but controlling them has lead to the widespread use of chemical pesticides. Could birds, spiders and beetles among other invertebrate predators do the job as well? Researchers in Brazil, the United […]

EU lawmakers back plan for sustainable farming

STRASBOURG, France (AFP) – The European Parliament backed Wednesday an ambitious EU push to make farming more sustainable, in a move hailed by environmental activists who also called for binding targets for slashing pesticides. A majority of 452 legislators gave the thumbs up to a report on the EU executive’s “farm to fork” strategy in the face of intense lobbying from agricultural groups. There were 170 against with 76 abstentions. “MEPs highlighted the need for enhanced […]

Paris, four other French cities ban use of pesticides

  PARIS, France (AFP) — Paris and four other French cities on Thursday banned the use of synthetic pesticides within their boundaries as an anti-chemicals movement that began in the countryside gains momentum. Lille in the north, Nantes in the west, Grenoble in the southeast and the central city of Clermont-Ferrand joined Paris in implementing the ban, citing the need to safeguard biodiversity and public health. The move is mainly symbolic in urban areas given […]