A re-visit of the health dangers from use of toxic synthetic herbicides and pesticides

The month of June is here and just about gone…and life goes on or does it?

Yes, it does and with it, every day, every week, every month and every year, more and more toxic herbicides and pesticides continue being dumped into our soils and atmosphere in the name of growing food. This is in addition to increasing use of synthetic fertilizers ostensibly to increase yield and productivity. Published evidence is that this artificial method of increasing yield is counterproductive as it destroys soil health and in the long run results in the ‘death’ of soils and the life sustaining microbial life within the soil.

  • A combination of increased use of heavy metals laden synthetic fertilizers and pesticides not only kills and destroys soil vitality but also, slowly, kills plant and animal life and ultimately poses health dangers for humans. These mostly manifest as increasing rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
  • This blog article focuses on reminding readers and the general population of the increasing dangers from use of these toxic synthetic herbicides and pesticides, often banned in the countries of manufacture but exported to 3rd world countries, especially in Africa.
  • Kenya, is one such country where despite concerted efforts to create awareness among the public on the dangers of spraying crops with toxic pesticides as a way of killing pests, the use of such herbicides and pesticides, often banned in their countries of origin, continue to be used by farmers, many who are unaware of the serious health risks and dangers to their health.
  • Find a recent article, published in one of the local dailies, that vividly describes the increasing dangers from the reckless use of herbicides and pesticides, most of which are banned in their countries of origin: This is clear evidence of double standards! https://nation.africa/kenya/news/alarm-as-risky-chemicals-banned-by-eu-rampant-in-kenyan-farms-4249158
  • In addition to the safety dangers that arise from use of toxic pesticides, poor methods of post-harvest storage are another major source of food safety concern in Kenya as indeed in many other African countries. Microbial contamination, especially fungal contamination, are a common cause of unsafe food resulting in acute and chronic conditions, including some cancers, like liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) that are linked to aflatoxin contamination. The author of the blog adds his voice to the issue:
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  • In view of these health dangers which constitute food safety concerns, what alternatives exist to produce safer food, free from use of toxic herbicides, fungicides and pesticide residues, in addition to bacterial and fungal contamination?
  • The goal of achieving food security, as defined by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization(FAO-2012), which includes that the food must be SAFE, cannot be achieved unless alternative ways of growing food are adopted: These alternative ways do not include the use of toxic synthetic herbicides and pesticides and their associated health dangers.
  • Increasing documented evidence demonstrates that agroecological and other regenerative farming and food production approaches can be used not only to achieve food security but also food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is achieved when the eaters(consumers) not only have a choice over their food preferences but also the democratic choice and ability to grow foods of their choices and preferences.
  • Agroecological and other regenerative approaches, which include organic agriculture, not only avoid the use of synthetic herbicides and pesticides but also ensure both food security and food sovereignty, in addition to ensuring healthy diets and related health outcomes.
  • Towards this end, the author of this blog, in conjunction with other authors and support from AFSA, have written a book; ‘ My Food is African’ and made it downloadable to explain in simple language, the urgent need to shift food production from a ‘killing’ approach to a ‘co-creative regenerative’ approach; Find here a downloadable copy of the book: https://afsafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/bfg-my_food_is_african_-_lores.pdf