Here are the facts about Agriculture and Nutrition IIIIIIIIII 2 3

Content Dear reader,

04 Why do farmers need pesticides? Agriculture and nutrition affect us all and connect with people on a 06 How is the safety of pesticides ensured? deeply emotional level. Food quality, crop protection, a changing climate, environmental protection and the safeguarding of farmers’ 08 Is glyphosate safe? existences are all issues that can lead to a clash of different opinions. 14 How safe is our food? Recently, there has been increased media attention on the safety of 18 How safe are genetically modified crops? some agricultural products. As a science and innovation company, we 24 Is CRISPR/Cas a way of introducing genetic feel a deep responsibility – to consumers and our planet – and want to reiterate our commitment to sound science and the safe use of the engineering through the back door? products and technologies farmers use to protect their harvests and 28 Why are seeds patented? ensure enough high quality, safe and affordable food for all.

32 Can organic farming feed the world? The future of our planet depends on the ability of agriculture to not 34 How do organic farmers protect their crops only increase productivity, but to do this in a sustainable manner that is ­respectful of our limited natural resources and need for ­biodiversity. from insect pests and diseases? We should be having a conversation on the best ways to achieve 36 Do crop protection products threaten these two objectives in a more holistic manner.

biodiversity? Before any conversation starts, we believe it is helpful to outline the 38 The agriculture quiz facts according to independent sources and then have a more objec- tive discussion. This brochure addresses many critical questions that 39 Sources and masthead are often posed to the agricultural industry. And we provide you with our views on these topics along with relevant independent scientific findings to support those views. You may have a different view and we would be very interested in hearing why, so please don’t hesitate to contact us at yourquestions@bayer.com. We look forward to the dialog with you and hope you find this brochure interesting.

Sincerely,

Liam Condon Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division IIIIIIIIII 4 5

Why do farmers need pesticides? CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS SAFEGUARD HARVEST YIELDS.

Disease pathogens, pests and weeds represent a significant threat to major field crops. Every farmer must protect his example, plant-infesting fungi and or her crops against diseases, their toxins can be detrimental to our 100 Relative percentage pests and weeds – just as they health if we don’t fight them. of yield must protect farm animals against diseases and parasites. Globally, farmers lose 30 to 40 percent 80 People, too, take medicines to of their crops because of pests and keep us healthy. diseases.2 With the world expected 60 to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, Additional yields conferred Crop protection solutions help farmers farmers need effective tools that can 40 by crop protection produce more food on less land to help them grow more food, even help meet rising demand, while also as the amount of farmland per capita 20 preserving vital natural resources. continues to shrink. 0 A farmer’s crop may compete with up Without to 30,000 different weeds, 10,000 Rice Wheat Corn Soybeans Potatoes crop protection species of insect pests, 3,000 types of nematodes, and 50,000 plant dis- eases caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses.1 This task is not easy. For

Source: Oerke, Bonn University, in Journal of Agricultural Sciences 144/2006 IIIIIIIIII 6 7

How is the safety of pesticides ensured?

The registration of crop protec­ Furthermore, Bayer is committed tion products is designed to to transparency in the field of crop protect human health and the protection and is a pioneer in the in- environment. dustry in this respect. Bayer’s trans- parency website (www.cropscience-­ Regulatory agencies require nearly transparency.bayer.com) ­provides 100 safety studies before allowing a access to scientific data used in product to be placed on the market. the assessment of crop protection All studies submitted to a regulatory products and makes the safety data agency are conducted according to that were previously available only internationally recognized standards to regulatory authorities publicly (Good Laboratory Practices) and accessible. audited, which ensures that the tests are conducted properly and the results are reliable. Major regulatory agencies As usual, the burden of proof around the world – including the U.S. lies with the company. EPA and the European Food Safety Authority – review all of the safety data As with the approval processes for required for registration to conclude pharmaceuticals, vehicles, airplanes products can be used safely when and other products, the burden label directions are followed. Products of proof rests with the applicant – are then regularly re-evaluated with the in other words the company that latest data and scientific knowledge produces the product and intends to ensure continued safe use. to introduce it to the market. These companies therefore have to con- duct comprehensive toxicological studies to prove the crop protection product’s safety for every use pattern, and the active substances in crop protection products are some of the most scrupulously examined substances in the world. IIIIIIIIII 8 9

Is glyphosate safe?

Glyphosate is the most studied the U.S. EPA again confirmed herbicide in the world. More that glyphosate is “not likely to be than 800 scientific studies, the carcinogenic to humans,” which U.S. EPA, the European Food is the EPA’s most favorable classi­ Safety Authority, the European fication, and also confirmed that Chemicals Agency and the glyphosate poses no other mean­ German BfR, among others, ingful risks to human health when have found that glyphosate is used according to its label. safe when used as directed. Glyphosate has a very high degra­ It is important to know that glypho- dation rate – and not just in the soil. sate blocks a specific enzyme Minimal residues of the substance pathway that is essential for plant that analyses have detected are also growth but is not found in human eliminated quickly from the body or animal cells. In December 2017, through the kidneys. IIIIIIIIII 10 11

Why is glyphosate Does glyphosate publicly reaffirmed that glyphosate-­ found between the proper use of so important? cause cancer? based products are safe when used glyphosate-based herbicides and as directed and that gly­pho­­sate is non-Hodgkin lymphoma.5 not carcinogenic. Additionally, in May Just like other companies, farmers In March 2015, the International Agency 2016, the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting Classified in the same category must be economically viable. That is for Research on Cancer (IARC), a on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) con- as hot tea why they have to efficiently control specialist agency of the World Health cluded that “glyphosate is unlikely to weeds, protect their crops and treat Organization (WHO), classified glypho- pose a carcinogenic risk to humans It is important to know what the well their most important capital – sate as “probably carcinogenic”. IARC from exposure through the diet.” category “2A: probably carcinogenic” the soil. Weeds cause problems in is one of four programs within WHO actually means. It means that some farm fields because they steal water, that has reviewed glyphosate, and the In the Agricultural Health Study, evidence of an elevated potential sunlight, and nutrients from the crops only one to have made such a finding. researchers from governmental insti- of harm exists, but that researchers farmers are working hard to grow. Regulatory authorities around the world tutes in the United States examined cannot rule out the possibility that Glyphosate was a breakthrough have all reached conclusions contrary to some 50,000 crop protection prod- cancer cases could also be attributed when introduced 40 years ago and this one outlier IARC report. Since the uct users, agricultural workers and to other factors. It must also be kept is the most widely used herbicide IARC report regulatory authorities in the their partners over a 20-year period, in mind here that these potential links in the world because of its effective- United States, Europe, Canada, Korea, including about 45,000 who regularly always involved exposure to glypho- ness, environmental benefits, and Japan, New Zealand and Australia have worked with glyphosate. No link was sate that farmers experienced on the safety profile. One study found that without glyphosate, yields in the EU of rapeseed, barley, wheat, and maize could reduce by 22 percent.3

The use of glyphosate is environmentally friendly

Glyphosate enables farming practices that have ecological and carbon foot- print benefits such as reduced- or no-till farming, a practice that reduces soil erosion, promotes soil health and

helps reduce CO2 emissions. Without glyphosate, globally, “there would be additional carbon emissions arising from increased fuel usage and decreased soil carbon sequestration, equal to the equivalent of adding 11.77 million cars to the roads.4 IIIIIIIIII 12 13

job, and not, for example, the con- Does glyphosate sumption of small quantities through harm insects? food. Next to glyphosate, the IARC lists a number of other things in the same category (“2A: probably car- Critics like to label glyphosate as cinogenic”) – hot beverages heated a “species killer” that wipes out the above 65° Celsius, red meat, shift plants insects need to live. This pro- work and the hairdressing profession. cess reduces biodiversity, they argue.

Glyphosate blocks a specific enzyme IIIIII The IARC assesses pathway that is essential for plant only the fundamental growth but is not found in human or animal cells. Bayer is not aware contact with it, unless the plants as pollinators. Fields where wheat, potential of harm that of any studies that prove a harmful have been genetically engineered to soybeans or corn are grown cannot may be posed by a effect of glyphosate on insects or tolerate glyphosate. But it is also at the same time be flowering substance, and not other animals. true to say that the herbicide is mainly meadows that provide food to the probability with applied in areas that are used for insects. This principle has applied The fact is: glyphosate is a so-called agriculture, i.e. in fields that do not from the very beginning and has which such an event broad-spectrum herbicide. This means primarily serve as habitat and source nothing to do with the discussion could occur. it combats all weeds that come in of food for beneficial insects such about glyphosate.

Why is glyphosate found in food? Is it dangerous?

In recent years, reports about traces This is possibly why critics of glypho- of glyphosate that were found in sate rarely cite specific totals when they food or beverages like baked goods, discuss the beer and oat flakes have frequently residues of glyphosate found in foods. appeared. This has nothing to do These totals are usually measured with farmers becoming careless in at the microgram level, that is, one their application of glyphosate. Rather, millionth of a gram or 0.000001 gram. the increased discoveries of the Glyphosate has a lower toxicity level substance can be traced back to the than cooking salt or baking powder and enormous technical progress that such concentrations therefore pose has been achieved in analytical tech- absolutely no risk to people’s health. nology. It is now analytically possible There is no reliable scientific evidence to measure even a fraction of a sugar that glyphosate use results in levels cube in a body of water the size of residue that pose health problems of Lake Constance (Germany). for consumers. IIIIIIIIIIII 14 15

to exceed the permitted maximum weigh less than half a grain of salt cannot neutralize the poison of the limits by a factor of approximately (approximately 0.0015 grams). death cap mushroom. one hundred. In the United States, the Department of Agriculture report- Evolution created the liver in humans Synthetic crop protection agents ed in February 2018 that 0.46 percent and animals due to these natural are meticulously examined prior to of the total samples had residues that substances. It can easily render their registration. They are only exceeded government levels.7 The most of these toxins harmless – but approved once it has been ensured Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not all of them: for example, our liver that they are safe. in October 2018 published results of its annual residue testing program How safe and was clear that the glyphosate levels “were below the ­tolerance is our food? levels set by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”8 ALMOST ALL POTENTIALLY TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN FOOD HAVE NATURAL ORIGINS.

Usually natural antigens Plants produce many toxins themselves to defend Consumers around the world can themselves against competitors or pests. feel comfortable that there are Natural, but potentially toxic substan­ safeguards in place to ensure the ces play a far more important role food they eat is safe. in food products than synthetic crop protection agents. American bio­ Synthetic crop protection agents are chemist Bruce Ames has calculated metic­ulously examined prior to their that we consume some 1.5 grams of registration in time-consuming stud- potential “toxins” daily if we maintain ies. They are only approved once it a diverse diet with plenty of fruits and has been ensured that they are safe. vegetables. This corresponds to the weight of between 50 and 60 grains Only in extremely rare cases do of rice. However, 99.99 percent checks by the authorities reveal res- of these substances are natural in idues of crop protection substances origin.9 In other words, the plants natural substances, active ingredients e.g. in potatoes, 99.99% 0.01% from synthetic crop that lie above the legally permitted produce them to protect themselves eggplants and zucchini protection agents thresholds. Only 0.9 percent of sam- against pests and other predators: ples in the E.U. were the subject of for example, potatoes produce the complaints as was reported in 2018.6 toxin solanine, zucchini and eggplant And even then it should be pointed produce dangerous bitter ­substances, out that the legal limits are set at and chili peppers produce the neuro­ levels far below what could poten- toxin capsaicin. While these natural­ tially pose risk to people. To present plant toxins make up a weight an actual­ health risk, the residues of amounting to 50 to 60 grains of rice, Source: Ames 1990 et al.,Dietary pesticides (99.99% all natural), Medical Sciences, 87-1990 crop protection products would have synthetic pesticides by contrast IIIIIIIIII 16 17

OVERVIEW OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC SUBSTANCES

Glyphosate is less toxic than baking powder or cooking salt.

Substance green = “natural What is it? LD 50 Hazard substance” (mg/kg)* classification

Per person consumption in Germany Sugar 29,700 averages 130 grams per day.

The world’s most frequently used crop pro- Glyphosate 4,870 tection agent, deployed as a herbicide. Not classified as harmful in Europe Useful as a leavening agent in baked goods > 2,000 mg/kg Baking powder 4,090 such as bread, cake or waffles.

Cooking Salt Men in Germany consume an average of 3,000 (NaCl) 10 grams of salt daily, women 8.4 grams.

An active ingredient with a stimulating Theobromine effect on the nervous system. It is contained, 1,270 for instance, in cocoa beans (chocolate). Harmful if swallowed < 300–2,000 mg/kg Warning Present as a stimulant in, for example, Caffeine 368 Only the coffee, tea, cola and energy drinks. dose makes Toxic if swallowed An anti-fungal agent used especially in Copper sulphate 300 < 50–300 mg/kg organic farming a thing not Danger a poison.” Fatal if swallowed A substance that is formed in the roots Nicotine 50 < 5–50 mg/kg Paracelsus, 1538 of the tobacco plant Danger

Fatal if swallowed A fungal toxin. The fungus spreads Aflatoxin ** 2.7–4.8 ≤ 5 mg/kg through hay, for example. Danger

* Standard for determining toxicity: Threshold for 50% mortality in rats ** Thermo­FisherScientific, Safety Data Sheet, Revision Date January 19, 2018, Product Name Aflatoxin B1 Source: GESTIS Substance Database IIIIIIIIIIII 18 19

How safe are genetically modified crops?

Genetically modified (GM) foods Genetic engineering are subjected to extensive test­ as a modern option ing before being made available to the public. Since becoming Genetic engineering, which intro­ available in 1996, not a single duces new genes to plants, was food safety or health issue asso­ developed as a method more than ciated with genetically modified 30 years ago. Today there are 10 GM foods has ever been recorded. crops commercially available: corn, cotton, soybeans, canola, alfalfa, In 2016, the National Academies sugar beets, papaya, squash, apples, of Science issued perhaps the most and potatoes.12 comprehensive report on genetically modified crops after reviewing more In 2016, more than 100 Nobel laure- than 900 studies and consulting ates advocated the use of genetic with 80 globally recognized experts. engineering in agriculture. This multi-year assessment found no difference in safety between GM Already today genetic engineering crops and their conventional counter- make plants more resistant to pests or parts. In fact, it found that in some diseases. It can add useful nutrients cases such as with insect-resistant or vitamins to plants or quite simply crops, there was a human safety enable farmers to produce higher benefit of GM crops due to reduced yields. In the future genetic engineer- pesticide exposure.10 ing might help plants to cope better with heat, drought, moisture or soil This finding has been mirrored by salinity and it may even be conceiv- other expert scientific bodies around able to make plant roots more absorp- the world, such as the The Royal tive to certain nutrients or to substan- Society, the world’s oldest indepen- tially improve the storability of food dent scientific academy.11 and animal feed. IIIIIIIIII 20 21

These traits are of significant impor- and is affected with fewer of tance to global agriculture as the the fungal toxins – also known climate is changing the instances of as mycotoxins – that otherwise extreme weather increase. What’s appear in crops after insect more, the biotic stress factors affect- infes­tation because fungi develop ing plants are changing all the time, in the chewed areas. Mycotoxins too, as new competing weeds, can be poisonous, trigger allergies insect pests and plant diseases are or cause cancer. spreading. As the development of a commercially viable variety can take Another example of the benefits 10 and 15 years, breeders must plan provided by genetic engineering: quite far in advance. in the late 1990s a papaya variety developed using genetic Genetically modified crops engineering saved the Hawaiian have proven their value papaya industry, which other- wise would have been completely Recently, a new variety of potato wiped out by the so-called ring- was introduced on the market that spot virus trans­mitted by aphids. produces less acrylamide, a cancer-­ causing substance, when roasted Hawaiian farmers who today or deep-fried – a clear advantage for cultivate organic papayas do consumer health. so with the protection of geneti- cally modified “rainbow” papaya Genetically engineered corn culti­ plantations arranged in a circle vated in many countries around around them, because the latter the world that is resistant against prevent the virus from spreading certain insects offers numerous to the organic papayas.13 advantages. It safeguards yields, requires less insecticide application IIIIIIIIII 22 23

Does genetic engineering result in farmers using more crop protection products?

Some critics claim the cultivation average, farmers using GM crops of genetically modified plants has used 37 percent less crop protection led to significantly greater use of crop products, but harvested a 22 percent protection products. A glance at the increase in yield. And despite the facts disproves this general allegation. higher costs for seed, the farmers’ profits increased by a 68 percent.14 A 2014 study by agricultural scien- tists at the University of Göttingen, A heavy reduction in the use of crop ­Germany, evaluated roughly 150 protection products was particularly publications and reports from all over noticeable in insect-resistant plants. the world investigating the impact The positive effects were greatest for of genetically modified soybeans, farmers in developing countries, who corn and cotton field crops. These were able to increase their earnings publications included studies by even more significantly than farmers nongovernmental organizations. in industrialized countries, such as The researchers came to the con­ the United States and Canada. clusion that when compared to farmers growing non-GM crops, on IIIIIIIIIIIII 24 25

Is CRISPR/Cas GENOME EDITING a way of introducing genetic engineering through the back door?

New molecular biology methods enable us to rewrite or modify individual DNA blocks in genetic material more precisely and safely than ever before.

In medicine, these tools could make it possible to cure certain hereditary diseases, and major advances in plant breeding are likewise within reach.

CRISPR/Cas is a genome editing The cryptic abbreviation “CRISPR/ This is why CRISPR/Cas is often aptly trolled. And a particularly important technology whose use in human Cas” describes the tool as part of the described as “gene scissors.” The aspect of this method is that foreign medicine is raising high hopes natural immune system of bacteria, important thing is that this technology genes generally are not introduced that it could potentially be used something that bacteria can use can be used to make specific modifi- to the plant. The aim is generally to to cure hereditary diseases. to defend themselves against these cations to the genome of plants. switch off genes or specifically “reacti- Experts believe that using this infections. Viruses are very small. They vate” traits – for example from wild technology to breed new plants aren’t even a cell; in principle they are Not conventional genetic varieties that have been lost over could likewise deliver major just genetic material (DNA or RNA) engineering the course of breeding. The resulting benefits. that inserts into the genetic material of modification is therefore indistinguish- a bacterium. The bacterium naturally What gene scissors do is different able from a conventional breeding wants to be rid of this – and that’s from what conventional genetic breakthrough or a natural mutation. What is CRISPR/Cas? where CRISPR/Cas comes in: it iden- engineering in plant breeding does. It’s just that this method is simpler, tifies segments in the genetic material With CRISPR/Cas, the location of faster and more precise, with no Bacteria can become sick, too – that come from viruses, and cuts the genome in which the modification impact on the safety of the final crop and they are often infected by viruses. them out again in a targeted manner. takes place can be precisely con- compared to traditional plant breeding. IIIIIIIIII 26 27

How should CRISPR/Cas be regulated?

New breeding technologies promote With regard to regulation, we have plant diversity as a result of new or the same position as, for example, the optimally adapted crop varieties for German Max Planck Society: What all types of agriculture. They increase should be important is what actually the availability of the existing genetic makes its way to consumers and not diversity, which currently can be used what technology it is based on.16 What possibilities does CRISPR/Cas offer? only sparingly.

There are many research projects IIIIII CRISPR/Cas is The result and not the means under way at various stages, right up should count to the first marketing authorizations. cheap and simple. Significant examples include projects It therefore is also Academics, industry researchers, to achieve improved resistance used by universities regulatory agencies, and the public to fungal infections in rice or wheat, and institutes that around the world are actively discuss- better-tasting tomatoes and the ing how these plant breeding tools deactivation of allergens in peanuts.15 do not have major will be reviewed to ensure their safe research budgets. and responsible use. CRISPR/Cas is the most elegant method of genome editing to date – and also the most “democratic.” IIIIIIIIIIIII 28 29

Why are seeds patented?

From falling poverty levels to the inventors. Patent protection increasing life expectancy, many is accompanied by the publication of the positive developments in of the invention. During the period human life are thanks to technical of patent protection the inventor and medical advances. Patents can allow others to use the invention. play an important role in these After patent protection has expired developments. anyone can freely use the invention. In this way technical advances Innovations are hugely significant are promoted. not only for society, but also for science-­based companies. They are Plants can be patented if they are frequently one of the most important knowingly changed to have a new competitive factors. trait such as higher yields or resis- tance to pests or drought. Such Patents protect inventors innovations can be achieved by gene technologies but are also possible It often takes many years and the by other technical processes. investment of many millions of euros to achieve a breakthrough develop- Over the past decades, innovations ment. Developing an innovative have led to huge efficiency increases drug product and breeding a new in agriculture. For example, from plant are extremely complex and 1961 to 2014, global cereal produc- expensive processes. tion increased by 280 percent.17

To allow companies to continue Over the same period, the world to pay for the high costs of research population increased to 7.4 billion. and development they need the And more than 800 million people certainty that they can exclusively still suffer from hunger today. Without market, during a limited time period, further significant yield increases, their newly developed products. therefore, it will not be possible This is enabled by patents that to feed all the people on the planet protect the intellectual property of in the ­future. IIIIIIIIII 30 31

Does patented seed cause farmers to become dependent on large companies?

Farmers decide for themselves where License fees are customary they get their seeds from. They can use their own seed or buy it from local If a farmer purchases certified suppliers who produce seeds specifi- seed, a license fee is included cally bred to thrive in local conditions. in the price. If he retains part of The fact that many farmers nowadays his harvest and uses this seed choose the latter option is testimony for renewed sowing, he must to higher yields and quality advantages also pay a fee for this. Each year, based on decades of research. many farmers often choose to purchase certified seed so that Farmers are not forced to buy seed they can benefit from advances covered by variety or patent protec- in breeding and achieve high tion. They can change seed and yields combined with very good use unlicensed seed whenever they quality. In certain crops such choose. The seed selection is exten- as corn, canola and sugar beet, sive. In many developing countries, hybrid varieties are generally seed breeding is the domain of public used that are more robust and institutions or the farmers themselves. higher-­yielding than conven- For example, 90–98 percent of tional varieties. ­farmers in West Africa produce their own seeds; in East and Southern ­Africa, the figure is 70 to 95 percent.18

IIIIII In summary, patents have not led to a limitation of available seeds and farmers thus have not become dependent on only a few big companies. IIIIIIIIII 32 33

Can organic farming needs of their own farm and their natural habitat and a decrease in bio- customers. As such, organic farm- diversity. And although it produces feed the world? ing is an option for many farmers lower greenhouse gas emissions than and consumers as part of the food conventional farming per hectare, industry. That’s why Bayer also offers emissions by yield are higher. What’s biological crop protections products more, food would become more Organic farming relies on objec­ that can be used in organic farming. expensive, which would negatively tives and principles such as very impact particularly people with low strict limits on chemical synthetic Shift to organic farming came incomes in developing countries.20 pesticide and fertilizer use, soil at nature’s expense health, responsible use of energy According to the study, therefore, and natural resources, mainte­ A study by the University of Göttingen, organic farming is not the model for nance of biodiversity, wide crop Germany, examined the impact of sustainable agriculture and safeguard- rotation, growing multiple crops organic farming on the environment ing nutrition. In global terms, locally in one field, and the use of bene- and climate in various regions of the developed and adapted methods ficial organisms. Many of these world. The conclusion: the large-scale combining conventional with organic practices are adopted in conven­ expansion of organic farming would farming are a better way of helping to tional agriculture. On its own, generally lead to an additional loss in sustainably increase productivity. however, it is not suitable to feed a rapidly growing world popu­ lation. YIELDS ARE MUCH LESS IN ORGANIC FARMING Depending on the fruit, vegetable THAN IN CONVENTIONAL FARMING. or cereal in question, yields of organically produced foods can Five examples of major crops in the US Relative be between 5% and 34% lower percentage of yield than conventionally grown crops 100% under similar conditions.19 100 80% 76% 80 To produce enough food to sustain 68% 66% 65% the global population through solely 60 organic methods, more land would 40 need to be used for farming, or more people would be needed to grow 20 crops. These would likely increase food prices globally. 0 Conventional Oat Barley Soybean Wheat Maize farming Farmers should have the right to Organic farming choose and utilize the crop pro­ duction systems that best suit the Source: Kniss et al., in Plos One, Aug. 23 / 2016: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0161673 IIIIIIIIII 34 35

How do organic farmers protect their crops from insect pests and diseases?

Organic farmers must also pro- One example is the heavy metal cop- tect their crops against weeds, per, for example, is an essential tool in disease, and insect pests. organic farming to control fungal infec- Specific rules vary by country, tions. Not only do copper salts accu- however, these farmers are mulate in soil, they also harm soil generally not allowed to use ­organisms – as well as aquatic organ- substances that are synthe- isms if they get into the surface water. sized and therefore regarded as “unnatural.” Besides mechan­ The EU regulation on organic farming ical methods and crop rotation, permits up to 6 kilograms of pure cop- they use bacteria, beneficial per per hectare and year.21 According insects, and heavy metal salts, to U.S. regulations, “copper-based for example. materials must be used in a manner that minimizes accumulation in the soil Whereas some of these techniques and shall not be used as herbicides”.22 are environmentally sustainable, ­others are harmful both to human health and to ecological systems. IIIIIIIIII 36 37

Do crop protection products threaten biodiversity?

Crop protection chemicals are Protecting biodiversity thoroughly tested and regularly re-assessed to make sure they To preserve as many such areas as can be safely used to keep crops possible, the productive use of farm- BIODIVERSITY IS DECLINING. healthy without harming people land must be maximized. or the environment. Farmers therefore no longer remove Changes to biodiversity are complex, unwanted plants from their fields but it is important to note that any mechanically but instead now rely 27,000 human interventions into nature can on crop protection agents. animal and plant species are lost have an effect on biodiversity. globally every year. Municipalities can also make a The construction of buildings and positive contribution by cultivating roads, the planting of gardens and blossoming plants on waysides many other human activities alter and traffic islands. Last but not least, habitats and could have a negative ordinary citizens can do a service effect on biodiversity. Whenever to nature by designing their gardens crops are cultivated, irrespective of in a more colorful and thus more whether the methods are organic insect-friendly way. One in five plant species or conventional in nature, plant is at risk of extinction. diversity changes and thus impacts biodiversity. In areas where corn or Source: UNCCD 2016, Kew Foundation 2016 cereal grows, there are fewer trees, bushes or wild flowers.

For example, in the tropics, biodiversi- ty is concentrated in rain forests; in central Europe, on the other hand, it centers on the diversity of habitats: open landscapes, gravel areas, rough grasslands, heaths, marshes and many more. All of these biotopes have receded in the past decades due to human activity. IIIIIIIIII 38 39

The agriculture quiz Sources

1 https://croplife.org/news/why-we-need-crop- 13 http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/

protection-products/ php/review/2003/papaya/ documented.

1. What percent of the earth’s amply been have – pathogens and

2 http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2215e/ 14 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=

entire surface is available for diseases against resistance as such i2215e.pdf 10.1371/journal.pone.0111629

the cultivation of crops for – benefits main their contrast, By

on human health or the environment. environment. the or health human on 3 http://www.ecpa.eu/reports_infographics/ 15 https://www.wired.com/story/crisprd-food-

cumulative-agronomic-and-economic-impact- coming-soon-to-a-supermarket-near-you/

human nutrition? effect harmful a have could crops

glyphosate-europe

whatsoever that genetically modified modified genetically that whatsoever 16 https://www.mpg.de/10444274/genome-editing-

5 6 % 13 % 3 % evidence scientific no is still there 4 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/ breeding-better-crops/

Despite extremely intensive analyses, analyses, intensive extremely Despite 

5. 21645698.2017.1390637 17 https://ourworldindata.org/yields-vs-land-use- 5 https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djx233 how-has-the-world-produced-enough-food-for-a-

2. How accurate is the analysis growing-population

technology for measuring pesti­ Insurance Accident 6 https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/

substances of the German Social Social German the of substances 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5348 18 https://www.publiceye.ch/en/topics-background/

cide residues? It can identify…? hazardous on system Information agriculture-and-biodiversity/seeds/

Source: GESTIS Substance Database. Database. Substance GESTIS Source: 7 https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/

media/2016PDPAnnualSummary.pdf.pdf 19 https://www.nature.com/articles/nature11069

1 kilogram of sugar 16). page (see glyphosate

powder are more toxic to humans than than humans to toxic more are powder 8 https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllness- 20 https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/

Nicotine, cooking salt and even baking baking even and salt cooking Nicotine, 

in Lake Constance 4. Contaminants/Pesticides/ucm618247.htm annurev-resource-100517-023252

1 cube of sugar years ago – without human intervention. human without – ago years 9 Ames, Profet, Gold 1990: Dietary pesticides 21 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/

in Lake Constance (99.99 % all natural), Medical Sciences 87/1990 ?uri=CELEX:32007R0834 8,000 about place took transfer The

a fragment of a cube of sugar identified. been also have products

10 https://nas-sites.org/ge-crops/ 22 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&

in Lake Constance gene foreign and Agrobacterium, SID=9874504b6f1025eb0e6b67cadf9d3b40&

DNA (T-DNA) of the foreign species species foreign the of (T-DNA) DNA 11 https://royalsociety.org/~/media/policy/projects/ rgn=div6&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32.7&idno=7

potatoes contain so-called transfer transfer so-called contain potatoes gm-plants/gm-plant-q-and-a.pdf

3. What is the oldest known vege­ Sweet genes. foreign contains that

12 https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/what-foods-

table containing foreign genes? vegetable natural (verified) first the are are-gmo/

potatoes sweet and – food trendy a are

potatoes sweet of made fries French  3.

Tomato Sweet potato Potato

Risk Assessment Risk

for Institute Federal German Source:

4. Glyphosate is less toxic to people­ a volume of 48 km3 48 of volume a

than…? has which Constance, Lake in sugar of

cube a of fragment a identify to able

Nicotine even are They substances. chemical identify ever-smaller concentrations as as concentrations ever-smaller identify

Modern analysis methods are able to to able are methods analysis Modern 

Baking powder 2.

Cooking salt

Source: Raschka 2012, Nova Institute Nova 2012, Raschka Source:

cultivation of cereals, fruit or vegetables. or fruit cereals, of cultivation Masthead 5. How many risks to the environ­ the for available is that surface earth’s

Published by: Bayer AG, Communications and Public Affairs

ment or consumer health have the of 3% just leaves This pastures. Responsible for the contents: Dr. ­Michael Preuss

scientists found after analyzing by 7% and forests by covered is 8% Editorial team: Christian Maertin, Dirk ­Frenzel, Jörg Schäfer

deserts, and mountains). and deserts, Layout and artwork: fischerAppelt, relations GmbH | LIGALUX GmbH nearly 1,800 studies on the effects wasteland, houses, (roads, possible not is Printed: HH Print Management Deutschland GmbH

Editorial address: Bayer AG, Communications and Public Affairs,

of genetically modified crops? farming which in areas by covered is face D-51368 Leverkusen, phone: (+49) 214 - 30 - 29908,

- sur earth’s the of 11% water. with covered

­ email: [email protected]

Nearly three quarters of the earth is is earth the of quarters three Nearly  1. 1st edition | November 2018 0 4 18 Bayer on the internet: www.bayer.com | ­www.­cropscience.bayer.com