Protecting health, biodiversity, and ecosystems
April 17-18, 2015
The 33rd National Pesticide Forum
Florida A&M University College of Law
Orlando, Florida
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who attended and helped organize our 33rd National Pesticide Forum, and a special thank you to our Forum sponsors! Read below for highlights from the Forum, and download the program here.
Videos from the Conference
Watch videos of the Forum presentations, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops. Watch the videos here. You can access the playlist, which includes all of the available videos of the 2015 forum, as well as previous years, on Beyond Pesticides’ YouTube page.
Program Highlights
The broad range of speakers and their participation at the Forum was insightful and inspiring, providing opportunity to share the current science and policy information and discuss local, state, and national issues. The conference, including a tour in the Apopka area, ran from the afternoon of April 17 through the evening of April 18, bringing together scientists, policy makers, and public health and environmental advocates to interact and strategize on solutions that are protective of health and the environment. The central theme of the conference this year was on agricultural justice, including the impact of pesticide use on human health and the environment, particularly as it relates to farmworker protections and organic agriculture. Biodiversity, pollinator protection, and other relevant issues for central Florida, including West Nile virus, pesticides in schools and hospitals were also covered.
Organizers
The 2015 conference was convened by Beyond Pesticides, Farmworker Association of Florida, and Florida A&M University College of Law. Co-sponsors include Agricultural Justice Project, Alliance for Fair Food, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Earthjustice, Florida A&M University Small Farms Program, Florida Organic Growers, Food and Water Watch Florida,Orange Audubon Society, Youth & Young Adult Network (YAYA) of the National Farmworker Ministry. Thank you so much to all the wonderful organizations that helped make this conference a success!
If your group is interested in co-sponsoring next years' forum please feel free to email us.
More on the Issues
We learned a lot from the speakers at this years conference, and are eager to keep up the momentum. Learn more about the issues Beyond Pesticides is working on that were discussed at the Forum, and take action to protect health and the environment: Stay tuned for videos from the conference, available on our YouTube chanel!
- Save Our Organic
- Protect public trust in the organic food label by voicing your concern through the Save Our Organic campaign.
- Local and Institutional Policies
- We learned a lot about the importance of taking action at the local level in order to advance effective pesticide policies to protect human health and the environment. Read Beyond Pesticides' model ordinance and implementation plan, a sample guide for communities to use to reduce dependency on toxic pesticides. See also our Tools for Change page, which highlights model ordinances across the country, with tons of tips and resources!
- Social Justice Labeling
- Read the transcription of a talk given by Michael Sligh, the founding member of the Rural Advancement Fund International (RAFI) USA on nurturing a Just Food Movement.
- BEE Protective
- Get in-depth information on the role of pesticides on pollinator decline, and learn what you can do to help. Download educational materials and pledge your yard or park as an organically maintainted, pollinator-friendly Pesticide Free Zone.
- Databases that Support Action
- Whether its learning about chemicals and the harms they pose, or choosing which foods to eat, Beyond Pesticides has the tools needed to increase environmental action in your community.
- The Fund for Independent Science
- One of the driving points of Tyrone Hayes, Ph.D.'s talk on Saturday evening was the need for independent research. Learn more about Dr. Hayes' important work, and what you can do to help save it!
If you would like more information about the 2015 conference in Orlando, FL, please email forum@beyondpesticides, or call 202-543-5450.
Miss out on last year's Forum? See Beyond Pesticides' Youtube page for videos of all the speakers, panels, and workshop discussions from the 32nd National Pesticide Forum! Check out our past conferences here.
Videos from the 32nd National Pesticide Forum last year in Portland, OR are available to watch on our YouTube Channel.
THANK YOU! The generosity of our sponsors helps make conferences a great event year after year. The sponsors listed below contributed to the 32nd National Pesticide Forum scholarship fund, making it possible for people from around the country to participate in one of the most important grassroots pesticide meetings of the year. Learn more about becoming a sponsor. Click on the logos for more information.
