An agriculture and health inter-sectorial research process to reduce hazardous pesticide health impacts among smallholder farmers in the Andes

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of highly hazardous pesticides by smallholder farmers constitutes a classic trans-sectoral ‘wicked problem’. We share our program of research in potato and vegetable farming communities in the Andean highlands, working with partners from multiple sectors to confront this problem over several projects.MethodsWe engaged in iterative cycles of mixed methods research around particular questions, actions relevant to stakeholders, new proposal formulation and implementation followed by evaluation of impacts. Capacity building occurred among farmers, technical personnel, and students from multiple disciplines. Involvement of research users occurred throughout: women and men farmers, non-governmental development organizations, Ministries of Health and Agriculture, and, in Ecuador, the National Council on Social Participation.ResultsPesticide poisonings were more widespread than existing passive surveillance systems would suggest. More diversified, moderately developed agricultural systems had lower pesticide use and better child nutrition. Greater understanding among women of crop management options and more equal household gender relations were associated with reduced farm pesticide use and household pesticide exposure. Involvement in more organic agriculture was associated with greater household food security and food sovereignty. Markets for safer produce supported efforts by smallholder farmers to reduce hazardous pesticide use.Participatory interventions included: promoting greater access to alternative methods and inputs in a store co-sponsored by the municipality; producing less harmful inputs such as compost by women farmers; strengthening farmer organizations around healthier and more sustainable agriculture; marketing safer produce among social sectors; empowering farmers to act as social monitors; and using social monitoring results to inform decision makers. Uptake by policy makers has included: the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health rolling out pesticide poisoning surveillance modeled on our system; the Ecuadorian Association of Municipalities holding a national virtual forum on healthier agriculture; and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Agriculture promulgating restrictions on highly hazardous pesticides in June 2010.ConclusionWork with multiple actors is needed to shift agriculture towards greater sustainability and human health, particularly for vulnerable smallholders.

The Politics of Counter-Expertise on Aerial Spraying: Social Movements Denouncing Pesticide Risk Governance in the Philippines

“…More importantly, it is pluralistic, trying to include more knowledge issues, approaches and methodologies. Developing counter-expertise on pesticides happens in many locations where people suffer from, and oppose, pesticide use (see Bohme 2014;Brisbois, Harris, and Spiegel 2018;Cole et al 2011). Such counterexpertise offers more effective resources for understanding what really happens than a disengagement from science and a retreat into an enclosed domain of local or lay knowledge.…”

Pesticide lock-in in small scale Peruvian agriculture

“…age + − Younger farmers may be more likely to consider pesticides as harmful (Isin and Yildirim, 2007). female gender − More equal household gender relations, in which women participate in farm business (as represented by female respondents) are associated with reduced pesticide use (Nkamleu and Adesina, 2000;Cole et al, 2011). technician + Agro-technicians are likely to promote pesticide use along with information about how to use the product (Wilson and Tisdell, 2001;Feola and Binder, 2010a;Sherwood and Paredes, 2014).…”

“…In the 25 years since the release of the World Health Organization's (WHO) report Public Health Impacts of Pesticides Used in Agriculture studies have continued to show the negative human health impacts of pesticide exposure and the pervasiveness of pesticide poisoning in developing countries (World Health Organization, 1990, Ecobichon, 2001Dasgupta et al, 2007;Bhat et al, 2010;Lee et al, 2010;Cole et al, 2011). Farmers in developing countries tend to use more pesticides more frequently, and apply more highly toxic varieties than their counterparts in developed countries (Ecobichon, 2001).…”

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