Carmen B. Hanko

12/8/1998

ENG 102 3:15-4:30

Proposal Essay

"Plan for Reforming the Earth’s Quality"

"Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. ‘And so it happened: the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it was’" (Genesis 1:11-12).

The world once consisted of a "Garden of Eden" where all was good and pure. Weather or not you believe in the Catholosists theory of how the earth was created is irrelevant. What we do know from research, technology, and tradition among cultures is that there was a period of time, in the beginning of time, where productivity did not rely on the "necessities" of a modern world. Although the world of technology has improved many aspects of the lives of humans and other fortunate creates on this earth, it is also causing the destruction and extinction of other entities. The good earth that once occupied the land of this existing world is one of the unfortunate recipients of tragedy caused by the advancements of the improving world we live in.

We live in an environment that is altered in every way by man. Every piece of material used each day is contaminated from humans trying to "improve" the normal lifestyle. This community we live in is no longer a natural one due to the products being used and the food being processed. Through the destruction of man, by man, an increase of deaths by serious illness has expanded. Humans should have reason to question the causes of these fatalities. The solution to this problem needs to be sought. It is pertinent that we educate ourselves and take interest in what is happening to the earth in order to ensure our future.

The first goal that needs to be met is to determine and evaluate the chemicals that exist in the agricultural environment. Certain criteria such as evaluating statistics of illness and death caused by these chemicals, how government officials are regulating pesticidal use, and establishing alternative methods of living need to be included when evaluating this dilemma.

The Industrial Revolution although a time of immense prosperity for the United States brought such inventions and chemicals to society that changed the world forever. The chemical and pesticide use on crops after World War I also contributed to the decline of the quality of agriculture. It was as if no one knew what was being produced anymore and it did not matter as long as the taste was there. Looking on a package label on almost any given food in a local grocery store will give the ingredients for the product. This is where the difference between the quality of food from then and now is present. Most labels have a long list of jargon printed in scientific terms. What most people do not realize is that it is these things that are half at fault for the degeneration of biodiversity. For these reasons, it is necessary to improve the quality of the world’s agriculture. The Problem facing us today under present civilization is the possible extinction of humanity. Statistics show that if biological degeneration-and therefore social decline-proceed at the present rate, humankind will inevitably face total collapse within the next fifty years leaving the planet void of all life.

Many other factors have contributed to the problem at hand. Some of these include how food is prepared and the supplements involved. In the article "Organic Farming: Facing Choices at the Crossroads" the author concludes that although the consumer is aware of the dangers, most ignore the consequences. The chemicals in water are present in the food we eat as well as what we drink, therefore, they lurk in our bodies and are carried throughout our blood. There are still unknown effects of some of the chemicals being applied to agriculture, which, in recent studies, may be the cause of some irregular mental behaviors. The society we have become today allows us to be dependent and rely on the technologies produced to make living easier. Humans have forgotten what it means to live simplistically and holistically. Is it possible to live how we are intended to? Our lives, the community, and our universe depend on how we treat our environment and ourselves.

The Food and Drug Administration is one of the main reasons why the public does not bother to engage themselves in this dilemma. According to the World Wide Web-site "Organic Farming: Facing Choices at the Crossroads" the FDA is virtually lying to the community by confining the truth:

• No-tolerance violations--pesticides which have no tolerance for the crops on which they are detected. Most of these residues represent an illegal use of the pesticide.
• Over-tolerance violations--banned pesticides that persist in the environment found at levels exceeding FDA-established limits.
• Trace no-tolerance violations—pesticides with no tolerance that are positively identified at levels too small to be quantified by FDA methods. These positively identified illegal residues represent an illegal use of a pesticide.
• Canceled pesticides—pesticides banned for use on some or all crops in the U.S. ("Organic Farming: Facing Choices at the Crossroads" 2).

These types of studies prove that not all government-funded agencies are trustworthy. This only leaves us with one solution: to find an alternative way of harvesting agriculture.

Pesticides have been known to provoke illness and contribute to the increase of deaths caused by disease. They seep into the soil which creates contamination of the crops produced and the nearby water sources. They are a costly and a time consuming form of insecticide, and they are used generously and without proper regulation in the entire agricultural environment.

"Many popular pesticides appear capable of compromising the body’s ability to fight infection, an extensive study finds. If true, pesticide use ‘could be a hidden killer’ – especially in developing countries, ‘where infections are a leading cause of death,’ says Robert Repetto, vice president of the Washington, D.C.- based World Resources Institute (WRI) and a co-author of the new report" (Science News 1). Incapability of fighting off infectious disease, or lack of immune system, can lead to an outbreak of unknown and deadly illnesses causing decrease in population and economic binds. Although this is largely a Third World problem, more developed countries are also affected because of their ties with other countries. The dilemma at hand, sometimes characterized as a lesser -developed countries problem, is also directly affecting those in well- developed areas. One World Wide Web cite researched states the findings of recent studies on soil contamination:

The list of disease caused by toxins also includes various types of cancer. Application of poisons on agriculture is allowing illness to overcome the bodies of human beings. Some these infectious diseases are without known cures, causing a depletion of population.

There are many disputing the cessation of insecticides for means of the controlling and cultivating of agriculture. The most stable ground they stand on deals with the severity of the effects caused from insecticides.

There are certain types of poisons that are less harmful than others, such as in this particular case. In most cases, the ingestion of this poison would not harm the body. In those who are less than average in this world, which accounts for over half of the population, there is no prediction as to weather or not this poison would have an ill effect on the body. The pesticide industry make statements protesting that insecticides applied to agriculture are in protected, tested amounts and will not be harmful when ingested. If this is true than where do the studies come from with the gathered information about deaths caused by insecticide ingestion?

Using "natural predators on crop-eating pests" is an effective method, included in the process known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), of veering toward the termination of pesticidal use on agriculture. This process does not involve the use of harmful chemicals and it allows the crop to reproduce in a natural manner, which in turn improves the appeal of it. Integrated Pest Management causes agriculture to cultivate without unwanted pests because it includes an alternative way of ridding of them. IPM has been utilized in many different communities and proves it to be an effective, alternative method as opposed to the use of insecticides.

Proof that incorporating Integrated Pest Management into the cultivation of agriculture brings about positive results is apparent in Africa where many of these methods have been used since the late 1970’s. In the World Wide Web site for "Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations" it states "Rice farmers across Asia have shown that large savings per hectare can be banked using IPM. Together with policy changes these ring up multimillion-dollar savings for governments. It is estimated that the Indonesian Government saved US $120 million in the first two years after adopting IPM as a national strategy" (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1). This Asian success story is what Africa owes its new developments to. The savings as well as the quality of food are two major reasons why this trend in agriculture should be applied to every and all croplands across the world. Africa has recently adopted IPM as the number one strategy for ridding of unwanted pests on their crops. The methods they use involve careful scientific experimentation on which plants reject or accept certain species of insects. When these configurations are processed, then it is decided on which tactic from IPM will be implemented. The applying of chemicals is sometimes used minimally in IPM but only to ensure the proper growth of agriculture to support the needs of the public.

After gathering any and all information concerning this matter, the most sensible proposed plan is to put the monies allotted to the pesticide companies for research toward using methods of IPM instead. The funds will continue to benefit the community but in a different way. The initial program transfer will take adjusting and rearranging of funds but in the end will help the environment. The pesticide industry will not suffer because there will still be a need for labor and research.

The University of California is one organization that is presently taking this plan to action in their state. Grants from two programs are allotted to them, allowing for IPM to be implemented. A plan is described in their newsletter posted on the web:

The popularity growth of this trend has led to much speculation from major chemical companies. Many protestors of IPM claim that there are minimal if any dangers concerning the application of chemicals. The support they have comes from the FDA which is credible but shady. Up until the late 1960’s there were no reasons to doubt what the FDA claimed to be safe amounts of chemicals. Since the post-war findings and the ban of DDT cautious seeking individuals have closely examined the FDA. Although some methods of IPM have been known to be used as early as the 1920’s, the seriousness and widespread use did not occur until mid-century. One argument that the chemical industry insists on fighting is that IPM is costly and time consuming. However, statistics prove part of their argument wrong as stated in the Pennsylvania site, "…in a national study of IPM programs for three years ending in 1985, a net return to IPM users over nonusers amounted to $578 million per year in nine commodities" (Pennsylvania: History of IPM 2). Many other studies have the same profitable results as this, proving the opposing argument wrong. Integrated Pest Management involves careful experimentation once first implemented within each community. Many entities such as soil conditions and weather are determining factors in finding the perfect equation of which method to use. These experiments could use more time than it does to spray chemicals on the crop but as soon as the perfect solution is determined, the vanishing of the unwanted pest is as effective as chemicals.

With the proposed plan of forcing the pesticide industry to transfer their funds toward research of IPM, the environment and the occupants on it will continue to strive and fulfill their expected goal.

Works Cited

Benbrook, Dr. Charles. "Organic Farming: Facing Choices at the Crossroads."

31 January 1998. <http://www.pmac.net/xroad.htm> (5 October 1998).

Benbrood, Charles and Hansen, Michael. "EPA Reduced Risk Comments." 17

July 1997. <http://www.pmac.net/epart.htm> (6 October 1998).

"CSIRO Entomology: Report of Research 1993-95 – Pest Management." 13

January 1997. <http://www.ento.csiro.au/research/1993-95/pm_lc.htm> (1 October 1998).

"Crop & Food- What is Integrated Pest Management? (IPM)." February

<http://www.crop.cri.nz/broadshe/fpm.htm> (1 October 1998).

"Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations." 1996.

<http://www.fao.org/news/1996/961101-E.HTM> (1 October 1998).

Fumento, Michael. "Is EPA About to Drive You Buggy?" The Washington Times.

23 April 1998. <http://www.junkscience.com/news2/fumento3.htm> (29 October 1998).

Hansen, Dr. Michael. "Bt Plant-Pesticides and Resistance Management." 10 February 1998. <http://www.pmac.net/mnremark.htm> (6 October 1998).

"Illegal Pesticides in Produce."

<http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/reports/Fruit/Chapter 2.html> (7 October 1998).

Kamble, Shripat T. "Fate of Insecticides Used for Termite Control in Soil."

NebGuide. August 1995. <http://www.fanr.uni.edu/pubs/insects/gl260.htm> (29 October 1998).

"New Evidence of Atrazine Well Contamination." Pesticide Action Network

America Updates Service. 15 October 1992. <http://sunsite.unc.edu/london/altnealtn/Sustainable-Agriculture/Pesticide-Educatio…/panups.00> (29 October 1998).

"Pennsylvania: History of IPM."

<http://www.nysaes.cofnen.edu/ipmnet/IPM.prim.psu3.html> (1 October 1998).

"Pesticides May Challenge Human Immunity." Science News. 9 March 1996.

<http://soundprint.org/~science/pesticide2.html> (29 October 1998).

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pest.html> (1 October 1998).

"University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project:

Competitive Grants Annual Report, 1998." Statewide IPM Project. 27 October 1998. <http://ipm.ucdabis.edu/IPMPROJECT/1998/98grants.html> (1 December 1998).