Chemical pesticides were developed to Support crop growth by keeping away potentially harmful pests. However, pesticides cause far more harm than some realize as their poisonous effects extend beyond the intended bugs. Studies have shown that pesticides can impair brain development in children, poison farmworkers, and harm various species of animals, including vital pollinators. While there are natural alternatives to spraying pesticides in one’s own gardening, that does not alleviate the major problem of industrial agriculture or water contamination. Plus, it’s also difficult to find food at the grocery store that has not been sprayed with pesticides.

Source: NowThis News/YouTube

A recent study found that around 64% of the entire world’s farmland is at risk of Pollution from pesticides. Dr. Fiona Tang, University of Sydney Research Associate and the study’s lead author, explained, “Globally, our work shows that 34 percent of the high-risk areas are in high-biodiversity regions, 19 percent in low-and lower-middle-income nations, and five percent in water-scarce areas.” These results are extremely concerning as this kind of pesticide contamination could “destabilize ecosystems and degrade the quality of water sources.”

This system of agriculture is completely unsustainable. It threatens to destroy the very land and water that we need for producing food. World leaders need to start developing more sustainable systems of agriculture! Sign this petition asking the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to create a task force in charge of transitioning global agricultural practices away from pesticides!

To continue speaking up, sign these other petitions as well:

• Tell the EU to Ban Neonicotinoids, Pesticides that Kill Bees
• Ban Dangerous Pesticides in Thailand that Harm Farmworkers

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