Highly Hazardous Pesticide Phase-Out for US Cotton Growers: Alternatives, Risks, and Opportunities

Abstract

The global community has identified sets of highly hazardous pesticides, of which at least 16 are in use by US cotton growers, four of those are prohibited and others are targeted by Better Cotton for phase-out. While there have been attempts to unify this information into a single list, agencies and organizations have maintained their own versions of highly hazardous pesticides. This report examines current use patterns, utility and efficacy; alternative pest management technologies and techniques including their efficacy, limitations and trade-offs; specific environmental and human health hazards, and translation to risks in the US cotton system, and efficacy and limitations of mitigations. We also present barriers to phase-out for each insecticide and the ramifications this might have for Better Cotton’s US cotton production. Lastly, we identify opportunities for supporting growers during this period of transition, including with coordinated education and outreach.