Does the reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides affect food production?

The crops and flowers are all dependent on fertilizer
.
Since 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has organized a zero-growth action for the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
After five years of implementation, by the end of 2020, China's fertilizer and pesticide reduction and efficiency increase has successfully achieved the expected goal, the use of fertilizers and pesticides has been significantly reduced, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides has been significantly reduced.
Significantly improved
.
Will the reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides affect food production? What is the level of pesticide use in my country in the world? Regarding these issues of concern, Zhang Fusuo, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor of China Agricultural University, and Song Baoan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Guizhou University, all stated in an interview with reporters that the double reduction of fertilizer and pesticide consumption control within a reasonable range will not affect food production.
, Will promote the realization of high-quality green development of agriculture
.
The control of fertilizer consumption must be based on technological innovation and other measures to increase production.
Chemical fertilizers are highly efficient nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, chlorine and other elements
.
Through the application of chemical fertilizers, it provides nutrients for crops and soil, improves agricultural productivity, and meets human nutrition and health needs
.
“The amount of chemical fertilizers should be controlled within a reasonable range, neither too much nor less
.
” Zhang Fusuo said that at present, China has initially established the fertilizer index for the three major grain crops of wheat, corn, and rice.
For example, the safe amount of nitrogen fertilizer for rice is 7 per mu.
-12 kg, 5-19 kg per mu of wheat, 8-19 kg per mu of corn
.
Zhang Fusuo believes that fertilization cannot be blindly
.
On the one hand, we must reduce the unreasonable and excessively high use of chemical fertilizers; on the other hand, we must keep the fertilizers in places where the use is reasonable, and increase them in places where the use is low
.
"Reducing the amount of fertilizer application is not a simple subtraction method
.
To reduce the excessive input of certain elements, such as excessive amounts of large elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, it is more common in some places.
It is also necessary to consider increasing the return of organic fertilizer to the field and supplementing the medium and trace amounts of calcium, magnesium and zinc.
Elemental fertilizer
.
" In Zhang Fusuo's view, the control of fertilizer consumption must be based on technological innovation
.
It is necessary to apply new technical approaches, adopt suitable fertilizer products, and also consider the combination of chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers, and use mechanized deep application to improve fertilizer utilization.

.
In addition, the control of fertilizer consumption must be combined with other measures to increase production
.
"It is easier to obtain high yields by controlling the reasonable amount of chemical fertilizers than excessive fertilization
.
" Zhang Fusuo explained, because excessive fertilization often inhibits the development of biological potential such as roots, resulting in low yields
.
"Experiments in the past ten years have proved that controlling the amount of chemical fertilizers at a reasonable level, through the selection of high-quality varieties, the regulation of sowing technology, soil improvement measures, plant protection technology and irrigation technology optimization, wheat, corn, and rice can increase production by 18%-35%
.
" Agricultural harvests are inseparable from the scientific and reasonable use of pesticides to "lay the groundwork" for green agriculture.
In the past, farmers were weak in the safe use of pesticides, and abuse and abuse of pesticides occurred from time to time
.
Song Baoan said frankly that in the middle and late last century, the pesticide varieties produced in China were mainly highly toxic organophosphorus pesticides
.
After entering the new century, "highly toxic pesticides" have been gradually eliminated
.
However, many people still fall into a misunderstanding about the problem of pesticide residues, thinking that as long as the pesticide is used, it will inevitably endanger health
.
"In fact, pesticide registration in China is very strict, especially after the implementation of the new pesticide registration management regulations, a compound has to go through a series of tests such as toxicology, efficacy, residue and environmental impact.
The registration of pesticides that prevent and control the corresponding pests and diseases on crops.
The registration
of compounds harmful to humans, animals, natural enemies and the environment is rejected
.
” Song Bao’an said that the standard for evaluating the safety of agricultural products is not whether pesticides are used, but whether pesticides are used in a standard manner .
, Whether the residue is within the allowable range, to determine whether the pesticide residue has an adverse effect on health, it must be related to the dosage, and the use is scientific and standardized, and it is safe and controllable
.
Song Baoan believes that as long as pesticides are used scientifically and rationally, safety intervals are strictly enforced and the scope of drug use is strictly enforced, pesticide residues can be degraded to within the scope of safety standards, so the products are also safe
.
"People who get sick must be treated with medicine
.
Similarly, when crops have pests, they also need to use pesticides to prevent and treat diseases
.
China's agricultural harvest cannot be achieved without pesticides, otherwise it will suffer from pests and diseases, will reduce production and income, and will be hungry.

.
"Up to now, more than 90% of the more than 600 pesticide compounds used in China have been locally produced, and more than 50 pesticides have independent intellectual property rights
.
Song Baoan said that compared with developed countries, China is There is still a big gap in
innovation and research .
“It is necessary for the whole society to care and support the development of the pesticide industry, strengthen the original innovation of high-efficiency, low-toxicity, and low-risk pesticides, and aim at the development needs of green agriculture, and develop more environmentally friendly and harmless green products.
Pesticides
.
"Eliminate low-efficiency, high-toxicity, and high-residue pesticides and focus on the quality and safety of agricultural products.
China's ecological agriculture construction has shifted from the stage of "survival, food and clothing, and prosperity" to the stage of "seeking ecology, environmental protection, and beauty".
Traditional pesticides It has been unable to meet the requirements of agricultural ecological civilization
.
During the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, the use of crop pesticides dropped from 299,000 tons (100%) to less than 260,000 tons.
The total pesticide use of crops across the country has achieved negative growth for 4 consecutive years, while export volume has continued Four years of positive growth
.
Song Bao’an said that the reduction of pesticides is not at the expense of crop yields and the effect of pest control, but at the expense of eliminating low-efficiency, high-toxicity, and high-residue varieties, increasing the utilization rate of pesticides and using ultra-efficient, environmentally friendly Based on the replacement of low-efficiency and old varieties of friendly green pesticides and biological pesticides, rational use and scientific prevention and control are carried out
.
"We must see that pesticides are the most effective prevention and control against fulminant and devastating pests, weeds, and rodents.
" Weapons are important strategic materials to ensure national food security, but the negative impact of existing pesticides on human health and environmental ecology cannot be ignored
.
"Song Baoan pointed out that to properly handle the relationship between crop yield and quality, it is necessary to improve the level of scientific use of pesticides, promote the reduction of pesticide application and increase efficiency, develop high-efficiency, low-residue, eco-friendly green pesticides and biological pesticides, and pay more attention to the quality and safety of agricultural products.
An inevitable choice for development
.
Since the “Double Reduction Action”, China’s grain harvests have been harvested year after year, and grain production has steadily increased
.
While the output of agricultural products has been guaranteed, the quality and safety level has also been significantly improved, and pesticide residues in major agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, and tea are qualified.
The rate is stable above 97%
.
"Prospering agriculture by quality, greening agriculture" and "green and high-quality development" have become the consensus of the industry.
Agricultural production has changed from simply chasing output in the past to a harmonious and green development that focuses on output and quality, and pays attention to people's well-being and life, health and safety
.
"From the perspective of current agricultural development, we still need to make long-term contributions in green pesticide innovation and scientific drug use, and continue to persevere
.
" Song Baoan said, first, we must strengthen pesticide technology innovation, improve pesticide quality and use technology, and comprehensively Popularize scientific and safe drug use technology; second, we need to support the green development of pesticides, and deeply promote the reduction and efficiency of pesticides and the control of pesticide residues; third, we must improve the pesticide use supervision system, clarify the responsibilities and obligations of pesticide users, and standardize pesticide use behavior; It is necessary to strengthen the construction of the grass-roots disease and insect control system, continuously improve the ability of scientifically using pesticide guidance services, strengthen technical training on safe drug use, promote new comprehensive prevention and control technologies, and strive to achieve scientific selection of drugs, precise application of drugs, and safe use of drugs, and strive to solve farmers’ problems in preventing diseases and insects.

.
(Source: People's Daily Online)