Lecture 8: Pesticides and Integrated Pest Management - and - Food: Does It Matter What I Eat?:

9/29/2025

What are the three main types of pesticides, and what do they target?

1. Herbicides: kill weeds

2. Insecticides: kill insects

3. Fungicides: kill fungi

Why have pesticides been essential in modern agriculture?

They’ve helped feed the global population (now over 8 billion) by reducing crop losses due to pests and diseases

What environmental issue is associated with pesticide overuse, like DDT?

Bioaccumulation: pesticides like DDT accumulate in fat tissues of organisms and can be toxic; they contributed to population declines in species like the Bald Eagle

Who was Rachel Carson and why is she significant in the pesticide discussion?

She was an environmentalist and author of Silent Spring. She raised awareness about pesticide dangers, inspiring environmental regulations and JFK called her a national hero

What is the goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

To use biological knowledge to control pests in ways that reduce cost, health risks, and pesticide use

What are the key principles of IPM?

1. Identify and monitor pests and risk

2. Set action thresholds - don’t spray unless pest levels justify it

3. Prevent pests - crop rotation, resistant plants, cultural practices

4. Use low-risk controls - traps, biological agents, mechanical methods

5. Use pesticides sparingly, and rotate modes of action to avoid resistance

How do GM crops and plant breeding relate to IPM?

They can create plants with resistance traits or pest-deterring features (like Bt toxin), reducing the need for chemical pesticides

What does Michale Pollan mean by “Eat Food”?

Eat real, minimally processed foods: things your great-grandmother would recognize as food

What ingredients or features should make you suspicious of a food product?

• Unfamiliar or unpronounceable ingredients

• More than five ingredients

• Contains high-fructose corn syrup

• Makes health claims on the label

Where should you shop in the supermakert?

Show the peripheries (where fresh foods are), and avoid the middle aisles (highly processed foods)

Also, shop outside the supermarkets when possible - e.g. farmers markets

What are the key principles of what to eat, according to Pollan?

• Eat mostly plants, especially leaves

• Remember, “you are what you eat eats too”

• Eat food from healthy soil

• Favor traditional food cultures (e.g. Mediterranean, Japanese, Indian, Greek, etc)

• Be skeptical of non-traditional diets or food fads

Why does Pollan recommend having a freezer?

To store well-grown, seasonal, or local food, which you can buy in bulk and preserve

What are Pollan’s tips for how to eat?

• Pay more, eat less

• Eat meals, not snacks

• Eat at a table, not on-the-go

• Don’t eat where you buy gas

• Try not to eat alone

• Eat slowly, listen to your gut

• Cook your own food

• If possible, grow a garden

What is the broader impact of your food choices, according to Pollan?

Your diet and food habits deeply shape your health, your community, and the natural environment. Food consumers influence agriculture, industry, and ecosystems