“Conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop and epitomizes the worst effects of chemically dependent agriculture. Each year cotton producers around the world use nearly $2.6 billion worth of pesticides — more than 10 per cent of the world’s pesticides and nearly 25 per cent of the world’s insecticides.
Cotton growers typically use many of the most hazardous pesticides on the market including aldicarb, phorate, methamidophos and endosulfan. Cotton pesticides are often broad spectrum organophosphates — pesticides originally developed as toxic nerve agents during World War II — and carbamate pesticides.”
Pesticide Action Network North America
“Pesticides used on cotton — even when used according to instructions — harm people, wildlife and the environment. These pesticides can poison farm workers, drift into neighboring communities, contaminate ground and surface water and kill beneficial insects and soil micro-organisms.”
Pesticide Action NetworkNorth America
- SeePesticides Commonly Used on Cottonfactsheet
- Find out about theBetter Cotton Initative
- Find organic cotton products atCertton,Blessed Earth,Organic Embrace,Gaia Organic
