Chemical control of pests
For most of the 20th century chemical control was mainstay of the
agricultural and food industries but of late there has been increasing
pressure to minimise chemical use and reliance on pesticides in the interests
of avoiding long-term health and environmental consequences. Chemicals
still play a vital role in the protection of food commodities and products
but the compounds remaining available for use are declining in number
and more attention is being paid to non-chemical alternative control