Pesticides harm many things we care about. Pesticide use in the UK has risen significantly in the past three decades, and the area of land treated by pesticides has increased by 63% since 1990. The body of evidence revealing the harms caused by pesticides to human health and the natural world is also increasing.

Scientific studies linking pesticides to diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s increase year-on-year. Physiological factors increase the vulnerability of pregnant women and children to harm from pesticide exposure. In addition, recent reports have revealed alarming global changes in insect populations, with 59% of reported UK insect species in decline, and abundance and total weight of insects have declined in Northern Europe by over 90%. In addition to direct harms to humans and wildlife, pesticides are also polluting our soils and waterways.

Meanwhile, the UK’s exit from the EU has led to a range of significant threats to our standards. Currently, British farmers don’t have the support that they need to reduce their use of pesticides and adopt non-chemical alternatives, with trade deals poised to potentially undermine them further. On the flipside, with independence creating a number of opportunities to introduce new measures, the UK could choose to be global leaders in the drive to reduce pesticide-related harms.

The pesticide manufacturing industry, and those standing to profit from current (and increased) rates of pesticide use, are organised and well-funded.

It has never been more crucial that those invested in a healthy, just, sustainable vision for the future are able to speak with a unified and coherent voice. There are alternatives and solutions to our current over reliance on pesticides, we just have to rally around them – that’s where The Pesticide Collaboration comes in.