University of Arkansas Releases Lifecycle Assessment Showing Pesticides Advance Sustainable Agriculture

ARLINGTON, VA – In a first of its kind effort to assess the environmental footprint of pesticide use, CropLife America (CLA) commissioned the University of Arkansas, led by researchers Dr. Marty Matlock and Dr. Greg Thoma, to conduct an independent three-year cradle-to-farmgate Life Cycle Assessment that comprehensively evaluates the environmental benefits and impacts of pesticide application in the cultivation of corn, cotton, and soybeans in the U.S.. The study examined crop productivity with and without pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) for three crops. The completed assessment successfully underwent an independent third-party ISO review.  

The assessment’s key results include:

·       Without pesticides, the yields of corn, cotton, and soybeans declined up to 70 percent, underscoring the indispensable role of pesticides in agriculture.

·       Cultivating corn, cotton, and soybeans without pesticides resulted in upwards of three times more land, water, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

·       Pesticides not only enhance productivity but significantly reduce pressure on our water, land, and energy resources per bushel of corn and soybeans and per pound of cotton produced.

“This three-year, independent assessment demonstrates that pesticides play a critical role in increasing crop yields while decreasing consumption of natural resources. We are pleased to have the data to support the work we do as we advance our commitment to sustainability,” said Alexandra Dunn, CropLife America, president and CEO. “In a world grappling with food security and climate change, the researchers’ findings affirm the significant role pesticides play in helping to feed, fuel, and clothe our world’s growing population in a sustainable manner. This is good news for today and the future.”

CropLife America will be hosting the lead author for a public webinar to further explain the LCA and findings on May 16, 2024. You can register for the webinar here.