Pesticides are largely made from fossil fuels, emitting significant CO2 emissions during manufacturing, transport and distribution. They underpin industrial farming and harm organisms that are critical for healthy soils and carbon sequestration. Despite this, the pesticide industry is continually allowed a seat at the table at climate and nature conferences.
Pesticide company Bayer sent 19 delegates to the recent COP30 in Brazil, the highest number of lobbyists from any single company. And pesticide companies were allowed to sponsor the ‘Agrizone’, a venue marketed as a hub for ‘innovation and sustainability’ which gave them direct access to thousands of attendees, decision-makers and negotiators.
This is far from unusual. The industry regularly meets and builds relationships with government officials. They attend international meetings to influence legally binding agreements meant to protect human health and nature and spend millions of dollars on greenwashing their own products and undermining alternative ways of farming.
These toxic chemicals are linked to major diseases, from cancers to diabetes and Parkinson’s. They are driving biodiversity loss and polluting our soil, air and water. And yet, they continue to be relentlessly applied to enormous swathes of land, many times each season, year after year.
We are a small team, but with your help, we can continue to defend independent science, expose corporate lobbying and fight for policies that protect farmers, pollinators, soil health and the right to safe, sustainable food. We champion alternatives that put people and planet before profit and hold decision-makers accountable.
The pesticide industry’s resources are vast. Ours are not.
Please support us with a donation this year. We are the only charity in the UK fighting to tackle the problems caused by pesticides.
We cannot do this alone.
Be part of the pesticide-free revolution.
