Many of the plants at Kew are particularly rare or valuable, so it is important that any pests do not cause excessive damage. From a global perspective, pest control is vital to ensure a continuing food supply to the world's population. Problems with pesticides Since the chemical revolution following World War II, synthetic pesticides have become the main response to pests in agriculture and horticulture. However, people are now realizing that while pesticides may be successful in the short term, they can cause many more problems than they solve. As pesticides have been used for many years, many pests have become resistant to them.
Many pesticides cause environmental and human health problems.
Chemicals may not hit the pest. Pests may be living high out of reach, or hiding on the underside of leaves. Some pesticides are poisonous to fish so cannot be used in glasshouses with ponds. At Kew, glasshouses have to be closed when pesticides are used, to ensure the safety of visitors. Much of the work in pest control involves preventing pest outbreaks.