New initiative aims to curb the toxic impacts of agriculture
New initiative aims to curb the toxic impacts of agriculture UNEP
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Ecuador, India, Kenya, Laos, Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam Launch $379 Million Initiative to Combat Agricultural Pollution
- Initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of the agricultural sector
- Focus on addressing the use of highly hazardous pesticides and plastic waste
- Financial incentives will be realigned to promote the adoption of sustainable practices
Nairobi, 12 March 2023
The governments of Ecuador, India, Kenya, Laos, Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam have joined forces to launch a $379 million initiative aimed at combatting pollution caused by the use of pesticides and plastics in agriculture.
The agricultural sector heavily relies on chemicals, with approximately 4 billion tons of pesticides and 12 billion kg of agricultural plastics being used annually. However, these chemicals pose significant risks to human health and the environment. Pesticides alone cause around 11,000 deaths each year, while chemical residues degrade ecosystems and contribute to climate change. The burning of agricultural plastics also contributes to air pollution, resulting in one in nine deaths worldwide.
Highly hazardous pesticides and mismanaged agricultural plastics release toxic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that contaminate air, water, and food. These inputs are often cheaper than sustainable alternatives, discouraging farmers from adopting better practices.
The Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management Programme (FARM), led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to address this issue. FARM seeks to reorient policy and financial resources towards farmers, encouraging them to adopt low- and non-chemical alternatives to toxic agrochemicals. The program also aims to facilitate a transition towards better practices.
Over the course of five years, the FARM program is projected to prevent over 51,000 tons of hazardous pesticides and over 20,000 tons of plastic waste from being released. It will also avoid 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and protect over 3 million hectares of land from degradation.
“Our current agricultural system relies on harmful chemicals, this is not necessary. FARM offers a powerful alternative model, empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources to transition to sustainable practices that safeguard our health and environment and also boost yields and profits,” said Anil Sookdeo, Chemicals Coordinator at the GEF.
To achieve these goals, the FARM program will support government regulation to phase out POPs-containing agrochemicals and agri-plastics. It will also promote better management standards and strengthen banking, insurance, and investment criteria to improve the availability of effective pest control, production alternatives, and trade in sustainable produce.
The launch event of the FARM program brought together representatives from all seven countries, along with over 100 partners and stakeholders. These included public and private banks, policymakers, farmer cooperatives, agrochemical and plastic manufacturers, international organizations, civil society, academia, and retailers.
The collaborative efforts between governments, financial institutions, farmers, and manufacturers mark a significant step towards combating agricultural pollution and creating a more equitable and resilient food system.
Notes to Editors
About FARM
The Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management Programme (FARM) is a $379 million, five-year initiative aimed at combatting agrochemical pollution. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by UNEP, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the African Development Bank. Participating countries include Ecuador, India, Kenya, Laos, Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam.
About the Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral fund dedicated to addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. Through grants, blended financing, and policy support, the GEF helps developing countries tackle their environmental priorities and adhere to international environmental conventions. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $24 billion in financing and mobilized another $138 billion for over 5,700 national and regional projects.
About the UN Environment Programme
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information, please contact:
- News and Media Unit, UN Environment Programme
- Eloise Touni, Programme Management Officer, UN Environment Programme
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the environmental impact of the agricultural sector, including the use of pesticides and plastics, which are harmful to human health and the environment. These issues are directly connected to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) as they affect food production and safety. The use of pesticides and plastics also has implications for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) as they pose risks to human health. Furthermore, the release of toxic pollutants from agriculture can contaminate water sources, linking to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The article also highlights the need for responsible consumption and production practices (SDG 12), the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions (SDG 13), and the protection of land from degradation (SDG 15).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
- Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
- Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
Based on the article’s content, the targets identified are aligned with the specific SDGs mentioned earlier. These targets focus on sustainable food production systems, reduction of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals, improvement of water quality, environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes, education on climate change mitigation, restoration of degraded land and soil, and achieving a land degradation-neutral world.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Reduction in the use of hazardous pesticides
- Reduction in the use of agricultural plastics
- Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
- Protection of land from degradation
- Increase in the adoption of low- and non-chemical alternatives to agrochemicals
The article mentions the projected outcomes of the FARM programme, which include the prevention of tons of hazardous pesticides and plastic waste from being released, as well as the avoidance of carbon dioxide emissions and the protection of land from degradation. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality. | – Reduction in the use of hazardous pesticides – Reduction in the use of agricultural plastics |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | – Reduction in the use of hazardous pesticides – Reduction in the use of agricultural plastics |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. | – Reduction in the use of hazardous pesticides – Reduction in the use of agricultural plastics |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | – Reduction in the use of hazardous pesticides – Reduction in the use of agricultural plastics |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning. | – Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. | – Protection of land from degradation |
