080 - Generalising alternative practices and techniques to the use of synthetic pesticides
080 - Generalising alternative practices and techniques to the use of synthetic pesticides
RECALLING the harmful impact of synthetic pesticides on biodiversity, water quality, soil and health, as highlighted in Resolutions 16/5 International Trade in Pesticides and other Biocides (Madrid, 1984) and 17.20 Transfer of Technology relating to Contaminating Products including Pesticides (San Jose, 1988);
CONSIDERING that a large number of synthetic pesticides have proven to be toxic for biodiversity, including insects, and including the aquatic ecosystems in which they accumulate;
NOTING that the Worldwide Integrated Assessment of the Impact of Synthetic Pesticides on Biodiversity and Ecosystems, carried out by IUCN experts by summarising 1,121 studies, shows that one important cause of the decline in pollinators is the use of pesticides, as does the International Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services assessment report on pollinators (IPBES, 2016);
ALSO NOTING that part of the annual global food production, with a market value of around 577 billion USD, is faced with the risk of the disappearance of pollinators;
NOTING that a growing number of judgments are recognising occupational illnesses linked to synthetic pesticides;
NOTING that their impact on health and biodiversity is often underestimated, given the assessment systems currently being implemented;
WELCOMING the fact that hundreds of towns across the globe have successfully stopped using synthetic pesticides in their public areas, and this has had a positive impact on nature in towns and cities and thus on their inhabitants’ quality of life;
FURTHER WELCOMING the commitment by increasing numbers of farmers, individuals and businesses to reduce or stop the use of synthetic pesticides;
WELCOMING the adoption in several countries of stringent regulations aimed at severely limiting the use of synthetic pesticides; and
RECOGNISING that alternative production system techniques such as agroecology or organic farming reduce the pressure on ecosystems, whilst having real potential for ensuring food security, as highlighted in the report “Agroecology and the Right to Food” (2010) presented at the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council and the report “Organic Agriculture and Food Security” by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2007);
1. CALLS ON all the states and sub-national and local governments to take action, in order to generalise in agricultural and non-agricultural areas, practices and techniques that are respectful of natural ecosystems, alternatives to the use of synthetic pesticides such as agroecology or organic farming:
a. ambitious policies linked to this issue;
b. economic, financial, and fiscal incentives; and
c. training and awareness-raising programmes and independent professional advice;
2. ENCOURAGES all farmers to adopt these practices on their land and to accelerate the ecological transition in agriculture;
3. INVITES all private businesses to adopt a proactive approach in suppressing the use of synthetic pesticides to maintain their properties as well as through their supply chains;
4. CALLS ON all citizens to stop using synthetic pesticides in their gardens or in any land they own;
5. ASKS IUCN Members, in particular NGO Members to:
a. raise public awareness about alternatives to synthetic pesticides and about the progressive elimination of these pesticides; and
b. promote and support the implementation of nature-based solutions to address the food supply challenge.
