Pesticide book

Pesticides

Problems, Improvements, Alternatives

Editors:
Frank den Hond - Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences, VU Amsterdam
Peter Groenewegen - Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences, VU Amsterdam
Nico van Straalen - Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU Amsterdam

Get an impression of this new book by reading the preface written by Harmen Verbruggen (Professor of International Environmental Economics and Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam). The first chapter (pdf file, can be read with the Acrobat reader). How sustainable are current pest management practices that rely heavily on the use of pesticide products? This important book looks in depth at the question of why the environmental impact of pesticides continues to be of serious concern (the persistence of the pesticide problem) as well as identifying and critically assessing various improvements and alternative strategies to circumvent the current problems of agricultural pesticide use.

Contents of this thought-provoking book include details of the authorisation of pesticides and regulatory science, innovation in the agrochemical industry, the use of agrochemicals by farmers, variations in agricultural practice, the effect of pesticides on the environment, integrated assessment, site-specific pest management, the use of biotechnology, food industry initiatives, international policies and organic farming.

The editors have drawn together an impressive list of contributing authors in a well integrated and carefully edited book that is an essential purchase for anyone working in the areas of crop protection and agrochemicals, in academia, research, policy making, government or industry. Agricultural scientists, applied entomologists, biochemists, crop protection specialists and environmental scientists will find a huge wealth of important information within the covers of this book. Libraries in universities where agricultural sciences, crop protection, plant sciences, biological and environmental sciences are studied and taught should have copies of this book on their shelves.

|This book is rooted deeply in the history of SENSE, because it is the final result of a grant awarded by the Vrije Universiteit to stimulate collaborative links in (then) new and promising Research Schools. As such the book is proof of a promise come true, because SENSE indeed developed into a leading Research School in environmental science. Several leading SENSE researchers, along with foreign experts, have contributed to this book. The book also testifies that multidisciplinary analysis can indeed be fruitful and enlightening. The persistent problem of pesticides in agriculture can only be solved by analysing not only agricultural production as such, but also innovations in agrochemical industry and socio-economic institutions (regulation and consumers)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1    Introduction (Frank den Hond, Peter Groenewegen and Nico M. van Straalen)

Chapter 2    An agricultural vision (Paul Struik and Martin Kropff)

Chapter 3    The authorisation of pesticides in the light of sustainability (Elisabeth Vogelezang-Stoute)

Chapter 4    Innovation in the agrochemical industry (Frank den Hond)

Chapter 5    Regulatory science in an international regime: An institutional analysis (Alan Irwin and Henry Rothstein)

Chapter 6    Farmers� agrochemical use decisions and the potential of efficiency and innovation offsets (Ada Wossink and Tanja de Koeijer)

Chapter 7    Variations in agricultural practice and environmental care (Geert de Snoo)

Chapter 8    Assessing the environmental performance of agriculture: Pesticide use, risk and management indicators (Kevin Parris and Yukio Yokoi)

Chapter 9    Integrated assessment of pesticides: methods for predicting and detecting environmental risks in all stages of a safety net (Harrie A.J. Govers, Pim de Voogt, Pim Leonards, A. van Roon and Onno Kwast)

Chapter 10   Site-specific pest management (Scott M. Swinton)

Chapter 11   The new biotechnology, crop protection and sustainable development (Susan Carr)

Chapter 12   European food industry initiatives reducing pesticide use (Nicolien M. van der Grijp)

Chapter 13   Impact of international policies (CAP) and agreements (WTO) on the development of organic farming (David Barling)

Chapter 14   Integration (Peter Groenewegen, Frank den Hond and Nico M. van Straalen)

 

The book can be ordered at Blackwell Publishing