1. Pests and Pest Control

2. Pests Any troublesome, destructive, or annoying organism
Insects eat about 13% of all crops in North America
Only 1/8th of insects are pests.

3. Pests Many insects are very beneficial. keep soil “healthy”
maintain food crops
pollinators

4. Pesticides Chemicals that kill insects, weeds, and other crop pests
Humans have created very effective pesticides
Pesticides can harm beneficial plants, insects, wildlife, and even people

5. Pesticide Resistance
The ability of pests to survive exposure to a particular pesticide.
Occurs when large amounts are sprayed continually
Pest population evolve resistance to the pesticide

6. Pesticide Resistance

7. Human Health Concerns Pesticides are designed to kill organisms
May also be dangerous to humans
Cancer rates among children in areas that use large amounts of pesticides are higher than the national average
Nervous systems disorders may be common
Pesticide factory workers may become ill
Accidental chemical leaks may endanger people in the area
Safety guidelines must be followed to protect people

8. Persistent Pesticides
A pesticide is persistent if it does not break down easily or quickly in the environment.
Accumulates in the water and soil
Many remain in the environment for many years

9. A Harmful Pesticide Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
cheap, easy to use, kills many different insects, kills long after application, doesn’t wash away by rain, may not be very toxic to humans
Example: DDT
was banned in the United States in 1972 but is still found in foods decades later
stored in body fats

10. Bioaccumulation
When something, such as a pesticide, becomes more and more concentrated as it moves up the food chain
DDT caused eggshell thinning in eagles and ospreys

11. Biological Pest Control
Use of living organisms to control pests
Natural Predators
Pathogens
VNT
Natural Chemicals
Growth Regulators

12. Pathogens Organisms that cause disease
Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium that kills caterpillars

13. VNT
plant varieties that are resistant to certain fungi, worms, and viruses

14. Natural Chemicals From plants are sold as pesticides
less harmful to humans and animals and is biodegradable
Example:
chrysanthemums

15. Growth Regulators Chemicals that interfere with the life cycle
pheromones
sterilize males

16. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Aims to reduce pest damage
Uses different management techniques according to the management goal and species involved
Used at appropriate times in the growing season

17. Steps of an IPM Monitor crops from time of planting Identify pests
Create a program
First try biological methods
Cultivation controls
Vacuuming pests
Small amounts of pesticide as a last resort
Change the pesticide overtime to reduce pesticide resistance

18. Genetic Engineering
Using technology in which genetic material in a living cell is modified.
Take genes from one organism and introduce them into another organism
Creates genetically modified (GM) plants
Used for pesticide resistance
Increased “life” of produce
Improved taste

19. Genetic Engineering

20. Genetic Engineering Many foods are genetically engineered
Many have not been fully tested for environmental impacts
May cause future problems

21. Sustainable Agriculture
Farming that conserves natural resources and helps keep the land productive indefinitely
Minimizes the use of:
Energy
Water
Pesticides
Fertilizers