Pesticide usage and impact research
The ADAS Climate and Sustainability team provides a combination of stakeholder engagement and expert understanding of pesticide usage to help clients understand the implications of pesticides within their supply base.
Pesticides are widely used in the production of agricultural raw materials and high-quality affordable crops. However, there are a wide range of pressures on pesticide usage, including
- consumer pressure
- plant resistance to chemicals
- changes to legislation that impact on the availability and appropriate application of crop protection measures.
We provide impact assessments on non-chemical control options to help inform robust integrated pest management programmes and minimise the risk of unintended consequences.
Food and drink businesses
Food and drink businesses that produce products for human consumption need to understand pesticide usage in their supply chains. Consumer pressure can drive businesses towards taking their own approach to the approval of different pesticides for use in their products.
ADAS can provide expert evaluation of scientific evidence to guide decisions on the use of high-profile pesticides. This can include implications of changes in use on productivity and the wider environmental impact. We can conduct stakeholder and consumer engagement exercises to understand their views on pesticides. Combined, this provides a robust and informed backdrop to the development of any pesticide policy.
We also offer insights into the availability of pesticides in a global supply chain. As well as current restrictions, we assess the potential implications of future use restrictions on the availability of agricultural raw materials.
Agricultural chemical businesses
Plant Protection Product legislation has put several pesticide active substance approvals under pressure. As part of a registration or re-registration process, we recognise that there is a large amount of scientific evidence produced to demonstrate safety and efficacy of an active substance.
To support submissions, it can be useful to quantify the social, economic and environmental impacts of the active substance to the farming industry. This is not a regulatory requirement, but assessors have indicated that this type of supporting documentation can be valuable to active substance re-registration. It can also be used to support product marketing.
Project highlight
Assessing the impact of stricter non-target arthropod protection on European agriculture
We conducted a study to understand how stricter protection for non-target arthropods could affect agricultural production, farm businesses and food security across Europe.
Discover more from the studyHelping you to reach your net zero goals
Robust integrated pest management programmes.
Speak to us today