Most Pesticides Used on Conventional Cotton in US Pose Health Risk, Says Report

In a call to action, a new report warns about the risks posed to humans and the environment from conventional cotton production, and why the time is now to make the change and transition to organic production methods.

Staff Writer

5 November 2024

4 minutes

Long Story, Cut Short

The report calls on governments and the cotton industry to annually track the use of pesticides, fertilisers and GM used in their respective countries and to make the information publicly available.
Although cotton is a globally grown and used commodity, there is a glaring lack of transparency in the kinds and quantities of chemical pesticides and fertilizers used in the production of this important crop.
In the US, some 19 million kg of pesticides were used in conventional cotton production, ranking cotton as the most pesticide-intensive crop per acre of the nine field crops surveyed by USDA in 2019–23.

An overwhelming 96% of the conventional cotton planted in the United States is genetically modified with at least 98 pesticides being applied, including almost 5.89 million kg of a carcinogenic herbicide glyphosate, a report has highlighted.

Exposure to glyphosate has been linked to serious health concerns, such as non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, other cancers, impaired neurodevelopment and more.

THE REPORT: The report from The Organic Center, Pesticide, Fertilizer and Genetic Modification Use in Conventional Cotton in the U.S. and Globally: The Case for Organic, offers a detailed roundup of science and information that highlights the amount of, and concerns around, chemicals used in conventional cotton production globally and in the United States.

The report marks the first time that official US production data on pesticide and fertiliser use in cotton has been analysed in such an in-depth and public manner, the nonprofit claimed.
The report was developed in collaboration with Sandra Marquardt of On the Mark Consulting and a member of the Organic Trade Association’s Fiber Council with support from Naturepedic Organic Mattresses and Bedding.

APPEAL: The report calls on governments and the cotton industry to annually track the use of pesticides, fertilisers and GM used in their respective countries and to make the information publicly available.

It also calls upon governments and universities to increase research and education on the challenges that organic cotton farmers and farmworkers face, and to develop and provide training in the use of non-toxic methods of defoliation as well as insect and weed management.
It urges cotton brands to drive change by using more organic cotton and to work closely with organic cotton farmers.
It calls upon consumers to purchase more organic cotton, using the power of their wallets for change.

CASE FOR CHANGE: Cotton is grown in more than 50 countries around the world, with the US being the third largest producer.

In 2021–22, the most recent year for which data is available, more than 11 million acres were planted to cotton in the US, and global cotton acreage totalled around 82 million acres.
Much of this cotton is managed with the extensive use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and genetically modified (GM) seeds.
Although cotton is a globally grown and used commodity, there is a glaring lack of transparency in the kinds and quantities of chemical pesticides and fertilizers used in the production of this important crop.
Despite the widespread use of chemical inputs and their potential risks, detailed industry information about conventional cotton’s chemical use largely remains behind prohibitive paywalls and, with the bulk of the reports, provided by the cotton industry with data provided by the chemical manufacturers, omitting the names and quantities of the different pesticides used and providing limited data on fertilizer use.
The US is the only country to officially report the use of pesticides and fertilisers in cotton production, with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducting semi-regular surveys on cotton production, listing the actual inputs and providing the information to the public at no cost.
The report focuses on the most recent USDA statistics from 2021 production since that is the agency’s most recent data for cotton.
On the global front, the report analyses data made available in 2024 for the years 2018 through 2022 by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

MAJOR FINDINGS: Among the topline findings:

In the US, some 19 million kg of pesticides were used in conventional cotton production, ranking cotton as the most pesticide-intensive crop per acre of the nine field crops surveyed by USDA in 2019–23, including corn, soybeans and wheat. Globally, pesticide usage for cotton ranks fifth among the top single global crops (after soybeans, corn, wheat and rice) with an average annual usage of 116 million kg.
The top 10 pesticides used on conventional cotton pose numerous health risks: seven meet the United Nation’s Highly Hazardous Pesticides criteria, six are considered possible, probable or known carcinogens, three are considered “moderately acutely toxic” pesticides, and four are considered endocrine disruptors.
Around 590 million kg of synthetic fertilisers were used on conventional cotton in 2021, making cotton the third most fertiliser-intensive single crop per acre among nine field crops USDA surveyed 2019–23, behind only corn and rice. Of that total, nitrogen fertiliser accounted for nearly 318 million kg. Nitrogen fertilisers are a major contributor to climate change by releasing the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. Globally, fertiliser usage on cotton amounted to an estimated 16.4 billion pounds.
In the US, 96% of the conventional cotton planted is genetically modified. Globally, cotton was the third most widely adopted genetically modified crop by the 29 countries that have adopted the technology as of 2019.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Our earlier report shows how organic cotton production prevents the use of toxic synthetic chemicals and promotes a healthy ecosystem. In this new report, we are strengthening our case for a change in most of the world’s cotton production by revealing the statistics and sharing the facts on chemical use in conventional cotton production. To best protect people and the environment, the conventional cotton sector can draw on organic practices, but farmers and brands need more information and data on the current chemical pesticide use in cotton production to make informed decisions on how to improve their practices. Given the risks posed to humans and the environment from conventional cotton production, the time is now to make the change and transition to organic production methods.

— Dr Amber Sciligo
Director, Science Programmes
The Organic Center

Most Pesticides Used on Conventional Cotton in US Pose Health Risk, Says Report

In a call to action, a new report warns about the risks posed to humans and the environment from conventional cotton production, and why the time is now to make the change and transition to organic production methods.

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