Where there has been agriculture, there have been pests. Where there have been pests, there has been pest control. The science is a fascinating one, enthusiasts explain.
Some of the earliest methods of crop protection were oil, ash, and sulfur, used by Greeks and Romans to control insects. Herbs and tobacco were popular with farmers in the 1600s, while sulfur and copper were used to protect fruits and vegetables in the 1800s.
In more modern times, farmers progressed to more advanced, man-made methods of protecting their plants. Agricultural technology has grown in leaps and bounds since the 1930s, when synthetic pesticides hit the market.
鈥淔armers today have access to some of the safest, most effective pesticides ever developed,鈥� says Pierre Petelle, vice-president of chemistry at CropLife Canada. 鈥淭hese tools allow them to protect their crops and produce higher yields than we鈥檝e ever seen before.鈥�
Weed control was revolutionized by the introduction of selective herbicides in the 1940s and 50s and that allowed a crop to get the upper hand and achieve significantly higher yields.
Seed treatments are another innovation that resulted in a very targeted application of small amounts of pesticide. These products create a protective barrier around a seed to provide protection against insect and disease damage before it happens. 鈥淭his gives the seeds a chance to get rooted and established in the soil for the best chance at survival and growth into a strong, healthy plant,鈥� Petelle explains. 鈥淭his technology has been incredibly advantageous for farmers and the environment.鈥�
Another tool in the fight against insects, weeds and diseases is plant biotechnology. About two decades ago, farmers started to grow biotech crops, which were improved to resist insects and withstand herbicide treatments that kill weeds but leave a healthy crop.
Today, crops are better equipped to feed us than ever before but still, up to 40 per cent of the world鈥檚 production is lost each year due to pests, weeds, and disease. Without crop protection technology, these losses would likely double.
