CropLife International shares FAO's vision

Abstract

In their Letter “Stay true to integrated pest management” (8 January 2021, p. [133][1] ), K. Wyckhuys et al. point to the essential role of checks and balances in the context of CropLife International's recently agreed partnership with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). However, we disagree with their assertion that the FAO and CropLife International have contrasting visions of integrated pest management (IPM). CropLife International fully supports the FAO definition of IPM, which is a fundamental element of the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management ([ 1 ][2]). The IPM objective is “careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human and animal health and/or the environment.” [([ 1 ][2]), p. 4] Supporting FAO's Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management is a condition of membership for CropLife International, and IPM is a core stewardship activity promoted by CropLife International to farmers globally. FAO has had great success in reducing pesticide use in Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam, as cited by Wyckhuys et al. ([ 2 ][3]), but these are not the only countries where improvements have been made. A recent study conducted by Phillips McDougal shows that the average application rates per hectare of modern pesticides are down by 95% since 1960, and there has been a substantial reduction in their acute toxicity ([ 3 ][4]). This is in large part due to the industry's development of more effective crop protection products and technologies ([ 4 ][5]) in combination with farmers' efforts to support optimized pesticide use in the framework of IPM. CropLife International also forms long-term partnerships with organizations such as GIZ ([ 5 ][6]), who value our expertise in training farmers on IPM and the responsible use of pesticides. We recognize the challenges that humankind faces in making agriculture more sustainable without compromising yields. Digital and precision farming are already contributing to further optimization, and their deployment will need to be accelerated to achieve the sustainable intensification that we need to avoid further agricultural encroachment of habitats and biodiversity loss ([ 6 ][7]). Innovation, shared knowledge, and partnership will all be invaluable to improving the sustainability of the agri-food system. This is the rationale for our collaboration with FAO and indeed all of our partnerships and alliances. 1. [↵][8]FAO, World Health Organization, The International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management (2014); [www.fao.org/3/I3604E/i3604e.pdf][9]. 2. [↵][10]1. H. van den Berg, 2. J. Jiggins , World Dev. 35, 4 (2007). [OpenUrl][11] 3. [↵][12]1. Phillips McDougall , “Evolution of the crop protection industry since 1960” (2019). 4. [↵][13]1. E. Radcliffe, 2. W. Hutchinson, 3. R. Cancelado , Integrated Pest Management: Concepts, Tactics, Strategies and Case Studies (Cambridge University Press, 2009). 5. [↵][14]“Better Rice Initiative Asia—Promotion of Integrated Pest Management in Thailand” (GIZ, 2018). 6. [↵][15]1. M. Bacco, 2. P. Barsocchi, 3. E. Ferro, 4. A. Gotta, 5. R. Massimiliano , Array 3–4, 100009 (2019). [OpenUrl][16] [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/371/6525/133.1 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #ref-4 [6]: #ref-5 [7]: #ref-6 [8]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [9]: http://www.fao.org/3/I3604E/i3604e.pdf [10]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [11]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DWorld%2BDev.%26rft.volume%253D35%26rft.spage%253D4%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [12]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [13]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text [14]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5 in text [15]: #xref-ref-6-1 View reference 6 in text [16]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DArray%26rft.volume%253D34%26rft.spage%253D100009%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx