{"id":24033,"date":"2019-01-08T00:00:42","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T04:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=24033"},"modified":"2019-01-07T21:37:29","modified_gmt":"2019-01-08T01:37:29","slug":"usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"USDA Capitulates to the Agrichemical Industry with Final GE Labeling Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-23069\" src=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/March-for-GMO-labeling-300x157.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"340\" height=\"205\" \/>(<em>Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, January 8, 2019) At the end of December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/FR-2018-12-21\/pdf\/2018-27283.pdf\">its rule<\/a> regarding the disclosure of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in consumer foods. After years of local, <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/04\/vermont-wins-legal-challenge-to-its-ge-labeling-law\/\">state<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2016\/03\/senate-blocks-vote-on-bill-to-stop-ge-labeling\/\">federal<\/a> pressure to implement a clear, concise labeling requirement for GE foods, advocates say USDA\u2019s rule is a failure, and a capitulation to agrichemical corporations that promote GE farming systems. According to U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), speaking with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2018\/12\/24\/new-gmo-food-labels-are-designed-to-confuse-rep-pingree-argues\/\">Portland Press Herald,<\/a> the new rule is \u201can insult to consumers.\u201d She said, \u201cThese labels should give people the facts of whether ingredients in their food have been genetically altered, plain and simple.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rather than the plain and simple language urged by Rep Pingree and other GE labeling advocates, USDA determined to move forward with muddled verbiage that is certain to confuse consumers. GE products will not defined by a term Americans are familiar with, such as GE or GMO. Instead, the term USDA will require on product labels is \u201cbioengineered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>USDA is allowing companies to choose one of the following methods to alert consumers to the presence of GE ingredients in their foods:<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-24035 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bioengineered-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bioengineered-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bioengineered-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bioengineered-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bioengineered-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Bioengineered.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-24036 size-thumbnail alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DerivedFrom-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DerivedFrom-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DerivedFrom-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DerivedFrom-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DerivedFrom-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DerivedFrom.png 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Inclusion of a \u201cbioengineered\u201d or \u201cderived from bioengineering\u201d symbol alongside a sunny plant and farm field. USDA decided not use the bioengineered symbols from its <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2018\/05\/usda-proposes-rule-ge-labeling\/\">proposed rule, which mimicked a happy, smiling sun<\/a>, but its new symbol is not a major improvement.<\/li>\n<li>Notification through a QR barcode. Despite widespread criticism that using a QR code will discriminate against the elderly and poor who may not have smartphones, the Department has provided that as an option.<\/li>\n<li>A phone number to text that will reply back with information. Many are concerned about the privacy aspect of this requirements, as this provision would require concerned consumers to disclose their private contact information to food companies.<\/li>\n<li>A simple statement that includes \u201cBioengineered Food,\u201d or \u201cContains a Bioengineered Food Ingredient.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many advocates urged USDA to require only the last option, but under the final rule food companies are only required to choose one, making it easy to continue to hide GE ingredients from consumers.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps most concerning is how narrowly USDA decided to define foods subject to GE disclosure. For instance, if a food product has multiple ingredients, but the first product on the ingredient list is either meat, poultry, eggs, broth, stock or water, even if other ingredients in the product are GE, USDA will not require GE disclosure. Further, food products containing \u201crefined\u201d GE ingredients (such as oil from GE soybeans, or candy bars with high fructose corn syrup from GE corn) will not require disclosure as long as the refining process is \u201cvalidated\u201d by USDA.<\/p>\n<p>Taken as a whole, many advocates are uncertain that consumers are now better off than before the <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2016\/08\/president-signs-weak-product-labeling-law-genetically-engineered-ingredients-preempts-states\/\">weak and controversial bill was signed into law by President Obama in 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fearing consumer backlash, even large food companies are speaking out against the final rule. Sustainable Food Policy Alliance, which includes Danone, Mars, Nestle, and Unilever, wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/foodpolicyalliance.org\/news\/national-bioengineered-food-disclosure-standard\/\">statement<\/a> \u201cThe standards fall short of consumer expectations, and the practices of leading food companies, particularly when it comes to how we are already disclosing highly-refined ingredients and the threshold for disclosure.\u201d While big food retailers are upset, organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, which represents the companies that develop and produce GE crops, were pleased with the final version of the rules.<\/p>\n<p>The passage of mandatory GE labeling came prior to the implementation of <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/04\/vermont-wins-legal-challenge-to-its-ge-labeling-law\/\">Vermont\u2019s landmark legislation, after it survived a court challenge<\/a> from many of the industrial food companies now opposed to USDA\u2019s requirements. Senators Stabenow (D-MI) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) struck a deal that ultimately resulted in these predictably weak, anti-consumer provisions.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond Pesticides and many other advocates for GE labeling are primarily concerned about the health impacts of consuming products awash in pesticide residue, and believe consumers have a right to avoid products produced as part of a highly toxic GE agriculture system. <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/programs\/genetic-engineering\/herbicide-tolerance\">Herbicide-tolerant GE crops<\/a> have been associated <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2016\/11\/expose-reveals-broken-promises-genetic-engineering-agriculture\/\">with massive increases in herbicide use<\/a> and the rampant takeover of U.S. farms by weeds which, through incessant herbicide spray, have themselves developed genes to resist herbicide effects. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/assets\/media\/documents\/pesticides\/factsheets\/bp-fact-glyosphate.082017.pdf\">Glyphosate,<\/a> the most common herbicide developed to be sprayed on GE plants, has decreased in effectiveness. Now, chemical companies are using older herbicides like <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/assets\/media\/documents\/pesticides\/factsheets\/2-4-D.pdf\">2,4-D<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2018\/01\/arkansas-officially-bans-use-monsantos-dicamba-herbicide-linked-crop-damage\/\">dicamba<\/a> that rival glyphosate\u2019s toxicity. Chemical companies have also <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/programs\/genetic-engineering\/plant-incorporated-protectants\">incorporated insecticides into the crop itself<\/a>, with evidence that resistance in target pests is <a href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2013\/05\/insecticide-sales-rise-with-failure-of-ge-corn\/\">trending synthetic insecticide use upwards<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The fact remains that the sort of techno-utopia of plant drought and disease resistance, increased vitamin content, and the like promised by agrichemical companies that develop GE crops has never been widely commercialized. Critics maintain that the main goal of GE crops is not to solve real agricultural problems, but instead to increase sales of seeds and pesticides, and companies\u2019 profits and stock prices. Why else would they want to keep consumers in the dark?<\/p>\n<p>For more information on the health and environmental impacts of herbicide tolerant and insecticide incorporated GE agriculture, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/programs\/genetic-engineering\/overview\">Beyond Pesticides GE program pages. <\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/media\/press-releases\/2018\/12\/20\/establishing-national-bioengineered-food-disclosure-standard\">USDA Press Release<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/content\/pkg\/FR-2018-12-21\/pdf\/2018-27283.pdf\">Federal Register<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2018\/12\/24\/new-gmo-food-labels-are-designed-to-confuse-rep-pingree-argues\/\">Portland Press Herald<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/qz.com\/1504806\/the-usdas-new-genetically-modified-food-labeling-rule-is-toothless\/\">QZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Beyond Pesticides, January 8, 2019) At the end of December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized its rule regarding the disclosure of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in consumer foods. After years of local, state and federal pressure to implement a clear, concise labeling requirement for GE foods, advocates say USDA\u2019s rule is a failure, and a capitulation to agrichemical corporations that promote GE farming systems. According to U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), speaking with the Portland Press Herald, the new rule is \u201can insult to consumers.\u201d She said, \u201cThese labels should give people the facts of whether ingredients in their food have been genetically altered, plain and simple.\u201d Rather than the plain and simple language urged by Rep Pingree and other GE labeling advocates, USDA determined to move forward with muddled verbiage that is certain to confuse consumers. GE products will not defined by a term Americans are familiar with, such as GE or GMO. Instead, the term USDA will require on product labels is \u201cbioengineered.\u201d USDA is allowing companies to choose one of the following methods to alert consumers to the presence of GE ingredients in their foods: Inclusion of a \u201cbioengineered\u201d or \u201cderived from bioengineering\u201d symbol alongside [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,69,5,41,309,1,368],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-24-d","category-dicamba","category-genetic-engineering","category-glyphosate","category-labeling","category-uncategorized","category-us-department-of-agriculture-usda"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>USDA Capitulates to the Agrichemical Industry with Final GE Labeling Rule - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"USDA Capitulates to the Agrichemical Industry with Final GE Labeling Rule - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(Beyond Pesticides, January 8, 2019) At the end of December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) finalized its rule regarding the disclosure of genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in consumer foods. After years of local, state and federal pressure to implement a clear, concise labeling requirement for GE foods, advocates say USDA\u2019s rule is a failure, and a capitulation to agrichemical corporations that promote GE farming systems. According to U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), speaking with the Portland Press Herald, the new rule is \u201can insult to consumers.\u201d She said, \u201cThese labels should give people the facts of whether ingredients in their food have been genetically altered, plain and simple.\u201d Rather than the plain and simple language urged by Rep Pingree and other GE labeling advocates, USDA determined to move forward with muddled verbiage that is certain to confuse consumers. GE products will not defined by a term Americans are familiar with, such as GE or GMO. Instead, the term USDA will require on product labels is \u201cbioengineered.\u201d USDA is allowing companies to choose one of the following methods to alert consumers to the presence of GE ingredients in their foods: Inclusion of a \u201cbioengineered\u201d or \u201cderived from bioengineering\u201d symbol alongside [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-01-08T04:00:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/March-for-GMO-labeling-300x157.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Beyond Pesticides\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ByondPesticides\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ByondPesticides\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Beyond Pesticides\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Beyond Pesticides\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#\/schema\/person\/1b5c0a0981b549cc5b628770073031f4\"},\"headline\":\"USDA Capitulates to the Agrichemical Industry with Final GE Labeling Rule\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-01-08T04:00:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/\"},\"wordCount\":885,\"commentCount\":1,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/March-for-GMO-labeling-300x157.jpg\",\"articleSection\":{\"0\":\"2,4-D\",\"1\":\"Dicamba\",\"2\":\"Genetic Engineering\",\"3\":\"Glyphosate\",\"4\":\"Labeling\",\"6\":\"US Department of Agriculture (USDA)\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/\",\"name\":\"USDA Capitulates to the Agrichemical Industry with Final GE Labeling Rule - 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After years of local, state and federal pressure to implement a clear, concise labeling requirement for GE foods, advocates say USDA\u2019s rule is a failure, and a capitulation to agrichemical corporations that promote GE farming systems. According to U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), speaking with the Portland Press Herald, the new rule is \u201can insult to consumers.\u201d She said, \u201cThese labels should give people the facts of whether ingredients in their food have been genetically altered, plain and simple.\u201d Rather than the plain and simple language urged by Rep Pingree and other GE labeling advocates, USDA determined to move forward with muddled verbiage that is certain to confuse consumers. GE products will not defined by a term Americans are familiar with, such as GE or GMO. Instead, the term USDA will require on product labels is \u201cbioengineered.\u201d USDA is allowing companies to choose one of the following methods to alert consumers to the presence of GE ingredients in their foods: Inclusion of a \u201cbioengineered\u201d or \u201cderived from bioengineering\u201d symbol alongside [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/","og_site_name":"Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides\/","article_published_time":"2019-01-08T04:00:42+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/March-for-GMO-labeling-300x157.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Beyond Pesticides","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ByondPesticides","twitter_site":"@ByondPesticides","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Beyond Pesticides","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/"},"author":{"name":"Beyond Pesticides","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#\/schema\/person\/1b5c0a0981b549cc5b628770073031f4"},"headline":"USDA Capitulates to the Agrichemical Industry with Final GE Labeling Rule","datePublished":"2019-01-08T04:00:42+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/"},"wordCount":885,"commentCount":1,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/March-for-GMO-labeling-300x157.jpg","articleSection":{"0":"2,4-D","1":"Dicamba","2":"Genetic Engineering","3":"Glyphosate","4":"Labeling","6":"US Department of Agriculture (USDA)"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/","url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2019\/01\/usda-capitulates-to-the-agrichemical-industry-with-final-ge-labeling-rule\/","name":"USDA Capitulates to the Agrichemical Industry with Final GE Labeling Rule - 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The founders, who established Beyond Pesticides (originally as National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) as a nonprofit membership organization in 1981, felt that without the existence of such an organized, national network, local, state and national pesticide policy would become, under chemical industry pressure, increasingly unresponsive to public health and environmental concerns. Beyond Pesticides believes that people must have a voice in decisions that affect them directly. We believe decisions should not be made for us by chemical companies or by decision-makers who either do not have all of the facts or refuse to consider them. Learn more about our work, read A Year in Review\u20142021, our accomplishments are your victories! Beyond Pesticides seeks to protect healthy air, water, land, and food for ourselves and future generations. By forging ties with governments, nonprofits, and people who rely on these natural resources, we reduce the need for unnecessary pesticide use and protect public health and the environment. Beyond Pesticides provides hands-on services to the public and supports local action by: identifying and interpreting hazards; and, designing safe pest management programs. With the information provided by Beyond Pesticides, people may not only be able to make informed choices and adopt practices that protect themselves and their families from unnecessary exposure to pesticides, but they will be able to effect changes on community-wide pest management decisions and policies that govern pesticide use, such as pesticide uses in parks, schools, for community insect control and along roadsides. 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