Read «  Meet the Risk and Hazard Guru »

Watch 5 videos of graphical explanations, including the funny “Risk Song”.

At last,more concrete for ForumPhyto readers, CropLife also publishes a poster which shows concrete actions for mitigating the risk in the cas of Plant Protection Products. Look at Risk Mitigation. It describes actions which are put in place by regulators and PPP manufacturers.

It would be useful to add actions which are implemented by the growers themselves: agronomic and preventive actions, use of complementary (or “alternate”) means, sprayers adjusting and maintenance, appropriate filling facilities,..

In short: Yes, Pesticides are dangerous
But:
1) Even if they are not asilver bullet, they are useful for Crop Protection.
2) The real risks can be dramatically reduced by appropriate actions

To go further : “Clairement distinguer danger et risque. « Risque = Danger x Exposition »” (in French), including this article from David Zaruk (in English).

[1] International Association of plant product manufacturers

A very beautiful, sensible and educational film wich is supported by interviews of academic people. Not to be missed.

Historical Background,
Habitats, taxonomy, and growth parameters
Complete list of microorganisms in foods
Determing microorganisms and/or their products in foods
Food protection and some properties of psychotroph, thermophiles, and radiation-resistant bacteria
Indicators of food safety, principles of quality control
Foodborne diseases
A specific chapter is dedicated to Fruit and Vegetables (pp12-148). But they are also in other parts of the book, when relevant.

This book is complete and precise, unavoidable for quality managers and scientists in microbiology.

Crop protection is critical to the growth of healthy plants, the enhancement of the environment, and the production of healthy foods.
Recognition of the critical role of crop protection in food production has been ignored and derided by some sectors. This Issue Paper reviews the benefits of crop protection, including the use of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides in crop production. The information provides a summary of the benefits of Integrated Pest Management as well as a section focusing on new uses of pesticides that are efficacious in reducing risk and providing new benefits.

Complete, well illustrated, it includes more than 200 pests and natural enemies, and how to manage them. It includes also definitions, identification features including for larvae, quick reference for pests tresholds, and life cycle descriptions

It cannot be ignored.

They react to sunshine, gravity, temperature and other stimuli.

Plants can be trained against attacks of pests.

In short, they are more “clever” than what we usually think. But we must be cautious of using correct wordings about this “mind”, this “intelligence”

“Can plants think?” is an other short video on the same item.

Some interesting examples on plant protection, agriculture, …:

Crop production technologies (in English)

Organic Food and Agriculture – New Trends and Developments in the Social Sciences (in English)

Insecticides – Advances in Integrated Pest Management (in English)

Herbicides – Mechanisms and Mode of Action (in English)

Fungicides – Beneficial and Harmful Aspects (in English)

Phytochemicals – Bioactivities and Impact on Health (in English)

Pesticides in the Modern World – Trends in Pesticides Analysis (in English)

Pesticides in the Modern World – Risks and Benefits (in English)

Démarches d’évaluation des risques relatifs aux contaminants alimentaires cancérogènes (article, en français)