Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Pesticides help feed the world – but at what cost?
In this episode of Science on the Menu, we trace the story of agriculture – from the birth of farming to today’s high-tech fields.
Along the way, we meet some familiar enemies: pests, plant diseases and unpredictable weather, all shaping how we grow our food.
So why do we rely on pesticides – and could we do without them?
You’ll hear about:
🌱 How pesticides are used to protect crops from pests and disease
🍎 How residues can end up in our food and the environment
⚖️ What this means for human health – risks, evidence and uncertainties
🔬 Alternatives, from traditional methods to new technologies
🍑 A closer look at the ingredients of an organic pesticide
Discover more about EFSA on our channels:
▪ Website: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en
▪ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/efsa.europa.eu
▪ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/efsa
▪ Instagram: instagram.com/onehealth_eu
Pesticides help feed the world – but at what cost?
In this episode of Science on the Menu, we trace the story of agriculture – from the birth of farming to today’s high-tech fields.
Along the way, we meet some familiar enemies: pests, plant diseases and unpredictable weather, all shaping how we grow our food.
So why do we rely on pesticides – and could we do without them?
You’ll hear about:
🌱 How pesticides are used to protect crops from pests and disease
🍎 How residues can end up in our food and the environment
⚖️ What this means for human health – risks, evidence and uncertainties
🔬 Alternatives, from traditional methods to new technologies
🍑 A closer look at the ingredients of an organic pesticide
Discover more about EFSA on our channels:
▪ Website: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en
▪ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/efsa.europa.eu
▪ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/efsa
▪ Instagram: instagram.com/onehealth_eu
