EDITORIAL
public mistrust of its products, what and where our food comes from. environmentally sound, user friendly CropLife Canada recently published
can it do to reverse public opinion? Finally, a magazine that only came and economically viable. Continued a stewardship benchmarking
I believe two things are essential; to my attention as a result of the development also improves the report in which it identifies the
education and stewardship. launch of Agrow Magazine. AgMag activity of older products through stewardship activities of its
is published three times a year improved formulation. members, stakeholders and partners
Education is the only effective way by the Minnesota Department of Manufacturing – products are made during 2006. This emphasises the
to ensure that the general public Agriculture. It is designed to show taking full account of the safety of collaborative approach required for
understand the necessity of crop young Minnesota school children people and the environment, using effective stewardship.
protection in modern agriculture where their food comes from and sustainable operating processes
and the role that crop protection the importance of agriculture to and applying best practice wherever So to conclude, does our industry
products play in delivering low- Minnesota. possible. have an obligation to the safe use
cost, high-quality food. I believe Storage, Transport and Distribution of its products? Yes it does, and
that the saying “nature abhors a I appreciate that these three – ensuring that products are stored, through industry initiatives such
vacuum” is never more true than in examples are not a comprehensive transported and distributed safely as stewardship programmes, it is
this circumstance. If our industry review of the activities of our and appropriately through proper meeting that obligation. But, our
does nothing to educate the public, industry to educate the public, but design of facilities, adherence to industry’s obligation does not end
and educate them from an early they are examples of the ways in appropriate regulation and training. there; it must then educate the
age, then enquiring minds will turn which we can fill the ‘information Retailers and distributors are also public about those stewardship
to other information sources, the vacuum’, and thereby prevent others trained and/or certified to ensure programmes, about the necessity of
most obvious being organisations from doing so. selling is done appropriately. crop protection and about the role
with a deliberate anti-pesticide Integrated Pest Management that our industry plays in all our
position. It is important to note Product stewardship – development and promotion of lives.
that we must draw a distinction CropLife International describes IPM programmes that incorporate a
between misinformation and missing product stewardship as “the range of pest prevention and control
information. Organisations such as responsible and ethical management strategies, including the responsible
Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth of a crop protection or biotechnology use of crop protection products. Phil Jarvis, Publisher
cannot afford to lie about pesticides product from its discovery or Safe and Responsible Use – the Agrow Magazine
but they will never make any effort development through to its ultimate responsible and effective use of
to promote their benefits. use and beyond.” Evidently, product crop protection products, promoted
stewardship covers the full lifespan through appropriate advice and
So how is our industry educating of a crop protection product and, training to all users. Safe use is an
the public? Here are a few examples as such, is often described as the integral part of IPM.
I have come across recently. Firstly, life-cycle approach to product Container Management – the safe
CropLife International has several management. and sustainable management of
short video downloads on its used containers and packaging,
website showing its director general, Product stewardship is the only including support of recycling and
Dr Christian Verschueren, speaking effective way in which the crop re-use programmes.
on news programmes about GM protection industry can build Obsolete Stocks – the safe removal
crop introductions. Although not trust with the public. A consistent and disposal/destruction of
directly related to educating the and sustained commitment to obsolete pesticide stocks, as well
public regarding agrochemicals, maintaining responsibility for a as the prevention of build-up of new
this willingness to present a product throughout its life-cycle will obsolete stocks through effective
public face and answer questions overcome many public fears about training and stock management.
about our industry’s products is the safety of our products.
essential and the role that our Source: CropLife International.
industry associations play must CropLife International defines crop
not be underestimated. Secondly, protection product stewardship as CropLife International also makes
and aimed at a rather different consisting of seven inter-related one very important point regarding
age group, the BCPC have just elements. crop protection product stewardship;
published a series of life science it is not the sole responsibility
education books aimed at the under- Research and Development of crop protection companies.
fives. One of these titles, ‘Trevor’s – discovering and developing Distributors, retailers, applicators
Magic Trolley’, takes readers on a new active ingredients that and growers all have a fundamental
journey investigating what we eat are biologically efficient, role to play in this process.
www.agrowmag.com  •   May 2007 3
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