Pesticides part of food miles mix by Dominic Dyer, Chief Executive of the UK Crop Protection Association. If we were to include a map of the world in our shopping basket, we would be surprised by how far many products have travelled. Shifts in consumer patterns, increasing demand for off-season and exotic products, plus the globalisation of the food industry itself has resulted in increased transportation of foods. However, responsible use of pesticides in the EU means that we can almost produce enough foodstuffs within Europe to be self sufficient. Reducing the requirement for food imports from other continents also helps to reduce the food miles (carbon emissions) associated with the food we eat.

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