Use of Crop Protection Products Improves Carbon Footprint

Climate Change and Plant Health, a study conducted by Agripol, a Berlin-based agency, shows that the use of crop protection products is sustainable and may contribute in the mitigation of climate change. The study presented during the 31^st International Cotton Conference in Bremen, Germany provided important data about the impact of pesticide use on carbon foot print or CO₂ balance in growing cotton.

The research investigation was conducted in 14 crops in 16 countries. Taking cotton as an example, grown in the three most important growing countries, data shows that the plant absorbs many times more carbon dioxide than is released by the use and protection of the crop protecting agents by a factor of 25 to 50. A case on cotton farming in India was cited where the repeated use of pesticides to control insect infestation leads to an additional consumption of 49.9 kgs of CO₂ , compared to the untreated field where 1.9 kgs more is converted per hectare.

See the original article at http://www.bayercropscience.com/bcsweb/cropprotection.nsf/id/29B92AD70C074436C12579C9002D5344.