Philippe Grandelet’s Post

Clouds, one of the most precious creations from Mother Nature, are not just contaminated, but they are conduits of contamination. In research just published in Environmental Science & Technology, dozens of agricultural chemicals — including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other substances — were detected in cloud water droplets. Key findings: ** Pesticides — including 10 banned in the EU due to health concerns — were detected in every cloud sample above France. ** Two samples exceeded Europe’s drinking water safety limit. ** Clouds carried not just pesticides but also emerging contaminants and new breakdown products. ** Most pollution came from long-range pesticide drift, not local farms. ** At any given time, French clouds may hold 6 to 139 tons of pesticides. This new research raises serious concerns about how long these toxins persist and how far they can travel, with potentially harmful global health impacts. Thanks to U.S. Right to Know for its excellent reporting on this. https://lnkd.in/gTYz6Krt

Were this study to be done in Australia (and notably no Aust Govt has offered 1 cent of research funding to do so) similar results are likely. It would not result in regulatory responses though.The claims of acceptable safety by regulators will ignore this data, as they are not required to act on it. They can wave it away as an acceptable risk and keep on approving uses. Legislative reform needed to bring to the top of priorities the need to protect human and enviro health from exposure to the growing exposures to toxic chemical cocktail mixtures.

Clouds, one of the most precious creations from Mother Nature, are not just contaminated, but they are conduits of contamination. In research just published in Environmental Science & Technology, dozens of agricultural chemicals — including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other substances — were detected in cloud water droplets. Key findings: ** Pesticides — including 10 banned in the EU due to health concerns — were detected in every cloud sample above France. ** Two samples exceeded Europe’s drinking water safety limit. ** Clouds carried not just pesticides but also emerging contaminants and new breakdown products. ** Most pollution came from long-range pesticide drift, not local farms. ** At any given time, French clouds may hold 6 to 139 tons of pesticides. This new research raises serious concerns about how long these toxins persist and how far they can travel, with potentially harmful global health impacts. Thanks to U.S. Right to Know for its excellent reporting on this. https://lnkd.in/gDxmgusJ

Join us at the UN Science Summit 2025 to learn more about our insights for One Health approaches to food production and the Sustainable Development Goals! Date: 17 September 2025 Time: 08:00-10:45 (ET) / 14:00-16:45 (CET) Location: Online Cost: Free 🌍 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/enuV-g3D SPRINT's free, online session will guide you through: ~ our latest data on pesticides' environmental and health impacts ~ the SPRINT Toolbox, which supports risk assessments that consider pesticides' varied impacts ~ pesticide reduction scenarios and pathways   Ultimately, the session provides urgently needed data and tools for integrated, health-focused approaches in agriculture, and supports food systems that are not only productive but also safe, sustainable and considerate of human and environmental well-being. #PlanetaryLimits #ScienceSummit, #UNGA80, #SDGs, #SustainableDevelopment, #SciencefortheSDGs #OneHealth, #SustainableAgriculture #Pesticides

I came across this map recently (link in comment). Not sure what more I should say here other than invite you to have a look and think about what we are doing.. There are plenty of other such maps on the platform.. From the paper on which's data this map is based on (also linked): "We considered a region to be at risk of pollution if pesticide residues in the environment exceeded the no-effect concentrations, and to be at high risk if residues exceeded this by three orders of magnitude. We find that 64% of global agricultural land (approximately 24.5 million km2) is at risk of pesticide pollution by more than one active ingredient, and 31% is at high risk. Among the high-risk areas, about 34% are in high-biodiversity regions, 5% in water-scarce areas and 19% in low- and lower-middle-income nations."

🌱 EU must speed up access to biocontrol tools! 👉 IFOAM Organics Europe is calling for urgent action to make natural substances more available for farmers. Current approval processes can take up to 10 years – far too slow to meet farmers’ needs on the ground. We’re urging policymakers to: ✅ Harmonise the definition of biocontrol ✅ Streamline approval processes at EU & national level ✅ Support institutions & research for better implementation ✅ Back farmers with funding to adopt these solutions 🌿 Biocontrol – like essential oils, microorganisms or semiochemicals – is a crucial tool in organic farming to manage pests, diseases, and weeds, while reducing synthetic pesticide use. 📖 Read more about our recommendations in our dedicated articles & in the full position paper: https://ow.ly/ze5T50WCHsn #PlantProtection #PlantHealthCare #Biocontrol

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment for long periods, accumulate in living organisms, and pose significant risks to human health and ecosystems. ✅ What Are POPs? They are organic chemical substances that: • Resist degradation by sunlight, water, or biological processes • Accumulate in fatty tissues of animals and humans (bioaccumulation) • Travel long distances via air and water (global distribution) ⚠️ Common Examples of POPs PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) – used in electrical equipment Dioxins & Furans – byproducts of industrial processes and waste incineration DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) – formerly a popular pesticide Chlordane, Aldrin, and Endrin – pesticides now banned in many countries 🚨 Why Are POPs Dangerous? • Carcinogenic (linked to cancer) • Endocrine disruptors (affect hormone systems) • Harmful to reproductive, immune, and nervous systems • Cause long-term environmental contamination 🌍 Global Action • The Stockholm Convention (2001) is a global treaty aimed at eliminating or restricting the production and use of POPs. • Countries must phase out production, restrict use, and manage existing stockpiles safely. 🧬 How POPs Enter Food Chain Released from industrial processes, pesticide use, or improper disposal Enter soil, water, and air Absorbed by plants → eaten by animals → bioaccumulate in fish and livestock Humans consume contaminated food, leading to health risks 📚 Want to dive deeper into environmental safety and sustainable practices? #Environment #Sustainability #Pollution #PublicHealth #StockholmConvention #EcoFriendly #Biotech #LifeSciences

🆕 📰 ‼️ #NewCBGPpaper is out! 🌍 Every year, herbivorous pests destroy around 20% of the world's agricultural production, threatening food security. Plants have natural defense mechanisms but activating them often entails high energy costs that reduce growth and yield. 📖🔬 A study led by Dr. Estrella Santamaria of the CBGP shows that this dilemma is not always inevitable. Researchers primed seeds with low concentrations of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and found that: - The treated plants suffered less damage from mites and caterpillars 🐛 ❤️🩹 - Not only did they maintain their productivity, but they also achieved more biomass and larger size 📈🌿 - They selectively adjusted their defenses based on the pest, without sacrificing growth🛠️ 👌 🌍🆕 This finding challenges the belief that plant resistance implies yield loss and opens the door to more sustainable agricultural strategies, reducing dependence on pesticides. 📎 Read the full story here: https://shorturl.at/XzwJu 👩🔬 Lucía Talavera Mateo Alejandro García García Adrián Sabater Gabriel Marta Marina Pérez Alonso

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Taiyuan University of Technology (China) explored a new way to detect pesticide residues at very low levels. Read more: https://hubs.li/Q03Jmg9T0

🌍 Yet another study (published in Nature Food, 🔗 in comment) confirms it: we need a #FoodSystems approach to address today’s agricultural and food challenges. This time the spotlight is on nitrogen pollution ⚠️ 💧 Excess nitrates (from synthetic fertilizers or animal manure) threaten our environment — fueling water pollution, algal blooms, biodiversity loss, and even air pollution. 🔄 According to the study, transitioning to resilient, regionally self-sufficient farming systems through circular agriculture could slash nitrogen pollution while boosting the EU’s strategic autonomy — reducing reliance on imported fertilizers. But there’s a catch ➡️ the study warns this may lower domestic yields and risk pollution leakage if more food ends up being imported. 🚫 This is not inevitable. A true #FoodSystems approach — combining sustainable #trade policies, demand-side measures for healthy & sustainable diets 🥗, and cutting #FoodWaste — can help the EU reduce nitrogen pollution while ensuring we produce enough food. 👉 The challenge is complex, but the solutions are systemic.