JULY 2023

HIGHLYHAZARDOUSPESTICIDESThe Rainforest Alliance’s Mission toPhase-out their Use—and How Companies
can Support

THE DANGERS OF HIGHLY HAZARDOUS
PESTICIDES IN TROPICAL SUPPLY CHAINS
Pesticide use is a serious threat in tropical agriculture, causing
severe damage to human health and the environment. While all
pesticides can be dangerous, those that are classified as “highlyhazardous” are of particular concern, due to the severe adverse
effects they pose to human health in both the short and thelong-term. It is estimated that 385 million unintentional acutepesticide poisonings occur each year, with the majority occurringin low- and middle-income countries—where health, safety andenvironmental regulations are weaker.
In addition, pesticides—particularly highly hazardous pesticides(HHPs)—can infiltrate soil and waterways, jeopardizing biodiversity, and the health of the communities who fish, grow food, anddrink from these natural resources. In effect, large scale soil degradation and biodiversity loss are caused by HHP usage, posing
a serious threat to the entire ecological system on which foodproduction depends.

THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE APPROACH TO
PHASING-OUT OF HHPSThe Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard prohibits the use of HHPs as defined by the FAO and WHO. These arepesticides which are proven to cause cancer, genetic defects,
reduce fertility, harm the unborn child, or cause severe or irreversible adverse effects on the environment. The Rainforest Alliance has a technical team that determines whether pesticides
should be prohibited, based on both the WHO/FAO definition ofHHPs and new evidence of substances causing a high incidenceof severe harm. Examples of HHPs that have been prohibited by
the Rainforest Alliance include paraquat, for its severe human
toxicity, and carbendazim for its mutagenic and reproductive
toxicity. For an in-depth overview of all prohibited pesticides see
the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard and standard guidance. When new substances are added to Rainforest Alliance’s
prohibited pesticide list, a phase-out period is allowed to support
farmers in finding alternatives.

The Rainforest Alliance also has an Exceptional Use Policy (EUP)
for prohibited pesticides. This process identifies regional andcrop-specific difficulties in finding feasible alternatives to HHPs
and works with farmers to find approaches that are economically and environmentally appropriate. Exceptions for the use ofprohibited pesticides are granted only if no efficient, accessible,
cost-effective alternatives are available, or if prohibiting the substance in question would put the economic sustainability of theagricultural operation at high risk. Exceptions are always temporary, regional, and crop-specific. When exceptions are granted,
we require producers to actively search for less toxic alternatives.

HELPING FARMERS EMBRACE INTEGRATED PESTMANAGEMENT
Our approach to reducing pesticides goes beyond phasing out
highly hazardous pesticides. It includes the implementation ofIntegrated Pest Management (IPM), a system wherein alternative
methods to preventing and controlling pests are considered. We
support farmers to implement IPM in various ways, for example
by:•providing an IPM knowledge bank to guide farmers in theirjourney towards more regenerative agriculture and pestcontrol•
developing tailored IPM solutions in specific sectors andlocations•building capacity and understanding of IPM through theFarmer Field School model, which promotes experimentation, demonstration, and exchange of experiences amongfarmers•
advocating for companies and governments to support
farmers in implementing IPM.
More information can be found in our position paper on
Integrated Pest Management and some information on IPM andpesticides use in our key crops can be found here: banana,cocoa, coffee and tea.

LONG-TERM VISION FOR RESILIENT TROPICALSUPPLY CHAINS
For the Rainforest Alliance, IPM is a vital component of regenerative agriculture that takes a climate-smart and holistic approach to ecosystem management. For more information on theRainforest Alliance’s approach to regenerative agriculture readour position paper.
The Rainforest Alliance’s long-term vision on improved pest
management does not include pesticide use; ultimately, ouragricultural systems need to fully transition to farming practices
that strengthen the entire agroecosystem. Several recent reports(IPCC, IPBES and HLPE) state that such a transformation is needed to address the climate, biodiversity, human health, and social
crises we face today.
Approaches such as IPM, regenerative agriculture, and agroforestry will enable a reduction in agrochemical use, which helps
to mitigate the climate crisis, increase farmers’ resilience toclimate change, improve livelihoods, and enhance biodiversity.
The adoption of these methods is essential to deliver on the Paris
Climate Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, andthe post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The latter includes
a target to reduce the overall risk of pesticides by at least 50
percent by 2030.

Companies working in tropical supply chains should support
farmers to diversify their farms and strengthen the ecosystemwith resilient crops, healthier soils, clean water systems, andincreased biodiversity. In effect, companies that support farmers
with IPM and regenerative agriculture as viable climate adaptation strategies can bolster the long-term viability of tropicalsupply chains and support farmer livelihoods.
The Rainforest Alliance is committed to reducing the use of HHPs
and working with businesses to ensure that people and nature
can thrive in harmony. This can be achieved through:(i)supply chain commitments that require IPM implementation and safe pesticide use by farmers and cooperatives(ii)

implementing best practices from the Rainforest Alliance
Sustainable AgricultureStandard including training, payment of premiums, and supporting farmers in reducing
their HHP use(iii)

contributing to shared responsibility in IPM implementation by providing financial incentives or in-kind payments(such as rust-resistant seedlings, insect traps, and biological control agents) to farmers seeking to transition awayfrom pesticide use.

HOW COMPANIES CAN SUPPORT THE PHASEOUT OF HHPS IN THEIR SUPPLY CHAINSThe Rainforest Alliance believes that companies have a responsibility to help farmers they source from to reduce the use of
HHPs and increase ecosystem resilience. Currently, farmers often
lack the financial means and support on the ground to transition
away from using HHPs, which limits implementation of safer alternatives to controlling pests. Companies have the opportunity
to play a central role in enabling farmers to find and implement
alternatives to HHP use, such as IPM.
There are two ways that companies benefit from supporting
farmers in their transition away from HHPs. Firstly, in light of mandatory legislation such as the German Supply Chain Act (2023)
and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive(2024), companies are obliged to identify the most hazardous
chemicals in their supply chains and support farmers in limiting
risks to human health and local ecosystems. IPM and regenerative agriculture are methods that are proven to work with natureand not against it, with positive impacts on farmers, farming
communities, and the environment. Companies can therefore
meet these legislative requirements by supporting farmers toimplement these approaches.
Secondly, HHPs hamper climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. For mitigation efforts, pesticide production emits large volumes of greenhouse gases, and pesticide use kills soil organismsthat are essential for sequestrating carbon. Climate adaptationis also negatively impacted by HHP use, as HHPs diminish onfarm biodiversity, reducing the resilience of the agroecosystem.

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect
nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities.

rainforest-alliance.org

info@ra.org