Supporting Farmers

Do we actually need pesticides?

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Plant science innovations help farmers grow healthier, more abundant crops in a more sustainable way — and have been doing so for thousands of years.

In an ideal world, there is no disease, no pests, no poverty, no climate change. In the world we live in today, however, food crops are compromised and consumed by thousands of species of weeds, nematodes (microscopic worms) and plant-eating insects, as well as viruses, fungi, mites and mice.

Against these foes, as well as an increasingly volatile climate, our farmers are tasked with growing enough food, feed and fibre to serve a booming population.

They need all the help they can get.

In Australia, crop protection products help both organic and conventional agricultural industries produce safe, high-quality, affordable and abundant food and fibre that is competitive on world markets. They increase Australian crop yields by about 40 per cent as well as increasing the value of our food production by $13 billion each year.

Outside of farming, pesticides are used to control public health disease vectors (like mosquitos) that carry diseases like dengue and zika.

CropLife member products are also used to control invasive weeds and species throughout Australia’s national parks, in public parks, golf courses, gardens and to control weeds to maintain roads, buildings, pathways and other public infrastructure.