New app to reduce the use of highly toxic pesticides
RSB, on behalf of the IPM Coalition, would like to invite you to download and use “Pesticides and Alternatives”, a new app specially designed to support the reduction of the use of highly toxic pesticides.
In its first stage, the app contains toxicity information related to all registered pesticides for a crop and pest species for Mexico and India, as well as per crop for Brazil, Colombia and Kenya. In addition, the user can search for non-chemical pest control alternatives from CABI for 2700 pests and diseases and get to know the pesticide restrictions of nine standard systems.
Reducing the use of highly toxic pesticides and offering relevant information about non-chemical pest control alternatives is key in a world where around two million tons of pesticides are consumed every year and where around 25 million agricultural workers experience unintentional pesticide poisonings annually.
“Pesticides and Alternatives” combines technology and scientific knowledge to create an effective and easy-to-use tool for decision makers of farms, fields and forest plantations in terms of pest management and pesticide use. For now, the app offers information in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
The app also provides access to toxicity information from government authorities, international agreements and/or academic institutions, as well as the restriction status for major standard systems/labels for more than 700 pesticide active ingredients.
Harness technology via an APP readable by smartphones and computers for improved access to toxicity information, standards’ restriction status and available registered less toxic alternatives to harmful pesticides is a key element for enabling pest control with less negative environmental and human impact.
The development of the app was possible thanks to the ISEAL Innovations Fund, the scientific support of the Oregon State University’s Integrated Plant Protection Center (OSU-IPPC), data facilitation from CABI and the collaboration of the IPM Coalition members: Better Cotton Initiative, Bonsucro, Fairtrade, Forest Stewardship Council, GEO Foundation, Global Coffee Platform, Rainforest Alliance, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, and the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN).
Download your “Pesticides and Alternatives” app from the GooglePlay or App Store.
