Businesses can help prevent risks from pesticides

John Dodson

Recent reports on the health effects of pesticides are causing quite a stir in homes and grocery stores nationwide.  A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics linked organophosphate residues found on produce with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. Other studies have linked pesticides to neurological disorders in children, including autism, behavioral problems, and impacts on short-term memory, motor skills and reaction times. The State of California is set to adopt methyl iodide, a carcinogenic pesticide, for use on strawberry fields.  While parents and consumers are certain to take notice of these health reports, the sustainable business community needs to see this as a wakeup call.

It’s unrealistic to expect businesses to suddenly abandon pesticides altogether, but introducing dangerous chemicals into the environment or into customers’ diets has no place in sustainable business practices. Not to mention that putting customers’ health at risk is usually not a very good business strategy. There are some concrete steps that agricultural businesses and the companies that use their products can take to make food safe for their customers and employees.

Corporate purchasing can be a powerful tool for transforming industries, as demonstrated by Walmart’s (NYSE: WMT) 2006 decision to launch a line of organic yoga clothing. The company’s venture into organics helped grow the market for organic cotton, which helped smaller retailers because the slew of suppliers working to fill the retailer’s orders created a stable supply of organic cotton.   In 2001, before Walmart started its organic line, global production of organic cotton was about 6,400 metric tons and in 2006, Wal-Mart alone used about 6,800 metric tons. While Walmart holds more purchasing clout than most businesses, a group of smaller companies could collectively create enough demand for pesticide free products to expand and stabilize the market for food products and create healthier options. The much smaller Patagonia has been making its entire sportswear line from organic cotton since 1996. Of course, it was Walmart’s decision to sell organics helped the entire industry gain momentum.

Whenever a pesticide health issue hits new outlets, a common response is that everyone should simply “go organic.” Organic is certainly part of the answer—but many consumers don’t know that organic goods are not necessarily free of pesticide residues.  About 25 percent of organic food carries synthetic pesticide residues, in comparison to 77 percent of conventional food¹. Food production businesses can reduce pesticides to levels below those required for organics by using integrated pest management, which uses targeted pesticides in smaller amounts. This technique involves training workers to know when a small amount of pesticide will do the job rather than spraying entire fields. This technique can help reduce worker exposure and decrease the amount of pesticides released into surrounding areas while reducing costs.

Third party pesticide residue testing is a good way for businesses to ensure consumers that produce is pesticide residue free.  Residue tests, which can be performed on organic and non-organic crops, allow businesses to make verified claims about the pesticide residues on their products—and a growing number of retailers require third party pesticide residue testing for all their suppliers. Pesticide residue testing doesn’t include all the holistic benefits of organic farming, but helps guarantee the absence of pesticide residues and can be performed at a relatively low cost.

Food retailers and producers can also help reduce health risks by being transparent about the amount of pesticides in their products and by demanding transparency from their suppliers. Transparency helps consumers make informed choices about which products they choose so there is an incentive to seek out pesticide free goods. Certain pesticides are more hazardous than others and agricultural businesses can work together with their pesticide suppliers to create plans that minimize risk to workers and consumers. Not being transparent about what’s in a product can put industries at risk of major consumer backlash—as we saw when consumers found out that drink containers made with Bisphenol A may have posed significant health risks. More recently, the Environmental Working Group’s 2010 report on toxins and false claims related to sunscreen has echoed through news outlets and the blogosphere.