Effect of Pesticide Residues in Cereal
Agriculture plays a very important role in our daily lives. This industry provides human kind with our supply of life, our daily sustenance. Our awareness of what we eat for our own survival is very crucial; we have a basic right to information about our own source of life. Another basic human right which we are entitled to in this manner is our right to choose, by being informed of what kind of food we consume, we are then equipped with the knowledge of making our own choices. We are now capable of choosing what kind chemicals or substances that we are to intake every day.
Knowledge of and the right to choose our food is relevant in the matter of pesticide chemical residues in the agricultural produce we obtain in the marketplace. Issues on the substances left on different kinds of agricultural crops have awakened people about their effects on humans when consumed. This subject is very important since it affects our daily lives. Specifically, one would place special attention on pesticide residues on cereal grains since it is considered as a common ingredient in many popular staple foods used among countries.
However controversial the effects of pesticide residues are in cereal grains and other foods, its presence in most agricultural products are still seen as unavoidable. There are many different levels of pesticide residues found in agricultural products and most of these products are classified as only having minimal to low level which may not necessarily endanger its consumer. The fact is still maintained that toxicity in residue levels whether high or low are still amenable to most consumers. Differences in the effects of these residues are still dependent on factors such as the intake degree of the affected food and other personal risk factors such as age, health risks or ailments, and exposure to other ways of contamination and contact with other chemicals[1].
This problem in our agricultural products has not only made itself apparent in the fields of science and technology, but also in the fields of economics and politics. In the side of economics, agricultural processes which maintain plant products without the use of pesticides prove detrimental to farm income as they yield very little profit as opposed to the large capital needed as such. However, the more economical use of pesticides may also prove to be disadvantageous to the common farmer since people would be highly opposed to buying contaminated cereal plant products. As an answer to this Clive prescribes new sustainable agricultural systems which promote equitable use of pesticides among sustainable knowledge of farming rotations and cultivations. This system is seen to guarantee safe produce with economical ways of producing them[2].
On the side of politics, many advocates of organic foods have also placed their opinions on how people should be choosing the food which they consume. Advocates have fought for these producers to stop using pesticides on cereal and other plant products and instead make use of the organic way of production by using all-natural processes of agricultural farming. Contrary to how this advocacy if very fervently fought for, absence in the common consumers’ initiatives on fighting the war against pesticide-contaminated foods[3]. Majority of consumers were found to be less indicative of any kind of concern about buying organic foods counter non-organic foods, despite passionate advocacies of organic food enthusiasts.
The effects of pesticide residues in cereal and other plant produce poses a very controversial issue indeed among many fields, not only in politics but also in economics and science and health. Not undermining the fact that pesticide residues are threatening factors to human health, the other facets of this issue are also not negligible. One must see not only the immediate health effects of this issue but alo the socio-economic, socio-cultural, and socio-political effects of the matter.
References
Groth, E. Benbrook, M. Lutz, K. 1999, An analysis of US government data of pesticide residue in foods, Annie apple seed project report, Consumers Union of United States, Inc., United States of America
Clive, A. 1989, ‘The importance of integration in sustainable agricultural systems’, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, vol. 27, pp. 25-35
Wilkins, J. Hillers, V. 1994, ‘Influences of pesticide residue and environmental concerns on organix food preference among food cooperative members and non-members in Washington state’, Journal of Nutrition Education, vol. 26, pp.26-33
[1] Groth, E. Benbrook, M. Lutz, K. 1999, An analysis of US government data of pesticide residue in foods, Annie apple seed project report, Consumers Union of United States, Inc., United States of America
[2] Clive, A. 1989, ‘The importance of integration in sustainable agricultural systems’, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, vol. 27, pp. 25-35
[3] Wilkins, J. Hillers, V. 1994, ‘Influences of pesticide residue and environmental concerns on organix food preference among food cooperative members and non-members in Washington state’, Journal of Nutrition Education, vol. 26, pp.26-33
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