25 July 2013

Organic farming is the clean green solution to pesticide residues

Organic farming is our truly sustainable solution to the widespread discovery of pesticides in New Zealand the Green Party said today.

A new study, published in the latest Environmental Pollution journal, has found agricultural chemical residues in the sediments of our South Island streams. The authors linked their findings to previous studies that found residues in pine tree needles and mountain air. One pesticide, chlorpyrifos was found in 87% of samples of waterway sediments. These pesticides are not used by organic producers.

“We need to urgently improve the environmental record of our agricultural sector so that we can live up to our international brand of producers of clean safe food,” said Green Party agriculture spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“The Environmental Protection Authority is effectively the ‘Chemical Promotions Authority’ and is too freely allowing these pesticides through.

“We can’t just keep pumping more and more pesticides into our environment and keep a hold of our clean green image overseas; something is going to give.

“Alternatives to these pesticides exist, and many farmers and growers successfully use these alternatives, but the lack of vision from the National Government and our regulators is risking our clean green marketing advantage.

“There are more and more farms out there showing that organic production methods are good for the environment, for animals, human health and for the bank balance.

“The organic sector globally has had average annual growths of 8 percent, New Zealand exports of organics increased by 25 percent over the last 3 years, and international demand keeps rising.

“That’s where our focus should be, on pesticide free production not pesticide reliance.”

The Environmental Pollution article: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974911300359X

ENDS

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