Should pesticides be used in farming?

Elliot (No)

There is no need to use pesticides in farming, as doing so presents many issues. First of all, we can safely say that many pesticides are completely unsafe for humans. The World Health Organization warns of this, specifically stating that pesticides are “potentially toxic to humans.” Yet, Americans have normalized eating food that has been sprayed with toxic chemicals. 

Proponents of pesticides argue that they can be washed away before consumption, but pesticide residue is often found on food that has already been cleaned. Specifically, pesticides have been linked with health issues such as cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive issues, and endocrine disruption. Long-term exposure to pesticides has also been linked with various chronic health issues. Not only do pesticides poison its consumers, but they can also harm unborn babies. This was confirmed by a recent study published in Nature.

Pesticides also damage the environment, along with many of Earth’s various plants and creatures. These toxins seep into our soil, water, and even drinking wells. Once pesticides get into the air, they can cause air pollution. Once they enter the environment, they become part of the food chain as they're consumed by animals, eventually making their way into our diet. One study highlighted that fish exhibit high levels of pesticide poisoning, including the fish that end up on our dinner plates.

Even if someone chooses to avoid pesticide foods at the grocery store, they might still be consuming these substances through their drinking water and numerous other sources. Pests often develop resistance to pesticides, becoming tougher and more problematic for crops in the process. In other words, pesticides may only be making the problem worse, causing a pointless “arms race” between insects and pesticides, leading to increasingly high levels of toxins in our environment. 

Luis (Yes)

If used moderately and in a controlled manner, pesticides should definitely be used in farming, as they allow every farmer to increase efficiency when cultivating larger portions of land. This allows farmers to meet the growing demand for food and even maximizes agricultural productivity. In fact, pesticides have been used for decades, meaning that most of these products have passed the test.

Without pesticides, it is believed that 'more than half of our crops would be lost to pests and diseases' and 'exposure to food contaminated with harmful micro-organisms and naturally occurring toxins, preventing food-related illnesses' would significantly increase. While many governments and organizations have tried organic farming practices or manual labor, they have yet to be able to replace pesticides.

Additionally, pesticides represent some of the biggest help for farmers all around the world as these allow them to manage different types of risks in their work and even reduce crop losses. These two elements are always crucial when farming as they safeguard their livelihoods and economic stability. Moreover, pesticides should definitely be used when farming as these help maintain stable food production because of the way they control different types of diseases and pests. This is crucial as it guarantees a consistent food supply, which ends up contributing to global food security.

Finally, pesticides should be used when farming because they are essential to protect crops from pests, weeds, and numerous diseases. This ends up guaranteeing higher yields and even quality produce. While pesticides should be used with care, they are crucial to upholding current methods of farming in which we are reliant on feeding the vast populations of the world.