Policy Guidelines for the Measured Use and Management of Agrochemicals in Antioquia

Abstract

Written by the Director of the DAMA of the Antioquia Governor's Office and a biologist from that agency, this article presents a diagnosis of the Green Revolution model and its environmental impacts, noting that global pesticide use grew significantly between 1983 and 1998. The authors cite an ICA study finding that more than half of Antioquian producers mix multiple pesticides in a single preparation, and document findings on the use of highly toxic products in eastern Antioquia. The text presents agroecology as an alternative and describes the Guidelines for the Measured Management of Agrochemicals developed by the DAMA in partnership with Cornare, Syngenta, and La Ceiba, including participatory training processes with 300 producers.