Gianessi Gives Pro-Herbicide Argument

April 25, 2002

Herbicides are essential to the future of U.S. crop production, an agriculture research expert maintained at a conference in Washington earlier this month on the benefits of pesticides and crop technology.

Leonard Gianessi with the National Center for Food & Ag Policy has concluded that without herbicides -- the most widely used class of pesticides in the United States -- crop production and yield would decline, pristine habitat would have to be plowed under for crop acreage, additional cultivation would result in more soil erosion and ultimately the United States would become dependent on imports -- meaning the end of an effective U.S. crop market with consumers forced to pay higher prices for less abundant and less nutritious food.

"The implications of not using herbicides are significant," he said. "The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that without herbicides, carrot production would drop by 48%, rice by 38%, tomatoes by 36%, strawberries by 30% and cotton by 27%."

Based on his research, Gianessi also concluded that herbicides provide more effective, cheaper control of weeds with less crop damage than non-chemical alternatives; herbicide use has contributed substantially to increased crop production; and herbicide alternatives pose environmental and human safety risks.

The full study -- including data on insecticides and fungicides -- on the "Benefits of Pesticides in U.S. Crop Production" will be available this fall.