Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial

Synthetic pesticides applied in conventional agriculture to control pests tend to compromise ecosystem services, and their residues may contaminate organic agriculture. To understand the significance of this contamination, also in small-scale farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, quantitative data...

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Main Authors: Kampermann, I., Bautze, D., Mapili, M., Musyoka, M.W., Karanja, E., Fiaboe, K., Irungu, J., Adamtey, N.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139889
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author Kampermann, I.
Bautze, D.
Mapili, M.
Musyoka, M.W.
Karanja, E.
Fiaboe, K.
Irungu, J.
Adamtey, N.
author_browse Adamtey, N.
Bautze, D.
Fiaboe, K.
Irungu, J.
Kampermann, I.
Karanja, E.
Mapili, M.
Musyoka, M.W.
author_facet Kampermann, I.
Bautze, D.
Mapili, M.
Musyoka, M.W.
Karanja, E.
Fiaboe, K.
Irungu, J.
Adamtey, N.
author_sort Kampermann, I.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Synthetic pesticides applied in conventional agriculture to control pests tend to compromise ecosystem services, and their residues may contaminate organic agriculture. To understand the significance of this contamination, also in small-scale farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, quantitative data is required. Therefore, we compared synthetic insecticide and botanical/biopesticide residues in conventional and organic agricultural production systems after nine years of continuous cultivation of a maize-based crop rotation system at two sites in Kenya. Our results show high detectable concentrations of synthetic insecticide residues (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and chlorantraniliprole) in conventional plant produce and soil. Furthermore, the organophosphate chlorpyrifos was detected at concentrations above European Union Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) for plant produce, indicating potential risks for human health. Additionally, we detected imidacloprid, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and chlorantraniliprole concentrations in the soil, indicating potential environmental harm. No residues of biopesticide/botanicals were detected in any of the production systems. However, we detected imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole in organic plots. The findings indicate that the MRLs can be crossed even if synthetic insecticides are applied according to or below the recommended rates on the conventional plots. Thus, synthetic insecticides potentially risk human health and the environment, while botanicals and bio-pesticides represent a safe alternative.
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spelling CGSpace1398892025-12-08T10:11:39Z Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial Kampermann, I. Bautze, D. Mapili, M. Musyoka, M.W. Karanja, E. Fiaboe, K. Irungu, J. Adamtey, N. organic agriculture farming systems pesticide residues Synthetic pesticides applied in conventional agriculture to control pests tend to compromise ecosystem services, and their residues may contaminate organic agriculture. To understand the significance of this contamination, also in small-scale farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, quantitative data is required. Therefore, we compared synthetic insecticide and botanical/biopesticide residues in conventional and organic agricultural production systems after nine years of continuous cultivation of a maize-based crop rotation system at two sites in Kenya. Our results show high detectable concentrations of synthetic insecticide residues (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and chlorantraniliprole) in conventional plant produce and soil. Furthermore, the organophosphate chlorpyrifos was detected at concentrations above European Union Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) for plant produce, indicating potential risks for human health. Additionally, we detected imidacloprid, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and chlorantraniliprole concentrations in the soil, indicating potential environmental harm. No residues of biopesticide/botanicals were detected in any of the production systems. However, we detected imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole in organic plots. The findings indicate that the MRLs can be crossed even if synthetic insecticides are applied according to or below the recommended rates on the conventional plots. Thus, synthetic insecticides potentially risk human health and the environment, while botanicals and bio-pesticides represent a safe alternative. 2024-03 2024-03-11T08:38:22Z 2024-03-11T08:38:22Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139889 en Open Access Elsevier Kampermann, I., Bautze, D., Mapili, M., Musyoka, M., Karanja, E., Fiaboe, K., ... & Adamtey, N. (2024). Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial. Crop Protection, 177: 106529, 1-7.
spellingShingle organic agriculture
farming systems
pesticide residues
Kampermann, I.
Bautze, D.
Mapili, M.
Musyoka, M.W.
Karanja, E.
Fiaboe, K.
Irungu, J.
Adamtey, N.
Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial
title Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial
title_full Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial
title_fullStr Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial
title_full_unstemmed Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial
title_short Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: evidence from a long-term farming systems comparisons trial
title_sort insecticide contamination in organic agriculture evidence from a long term farming systems comparisons trial
topic organic agriculture
farming systems
pesticide residues
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/139889
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