Policy Analysis: Comparing Pesticide Regulations: What can Belgium (EU) and Washington State (US) Learn from One Another?

Published in Journal of Science Policy & Governance Volume 22, Issue 02
Authors

Ona Ambrozaite (1), Kirsten B. Butner (2), Dezmond Cole (3), Eline D'Haene (4), Jasmine De Rop (4), Willem Desmedt (4), Nathaniel Laughner (5), Ruben Savels (6), Esther Van Parys (6), Hao Nick Zhang (7)
Publication year 2023
DOI https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG220201
Affiliations
  1. Johns Hopkins University, Department Chemistry, Baltimore, Maryland
  2. Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Baltimore, Maryland
  3. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Baltimore, Maryland
  4. Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent, Belgium
  5. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Cellular Biology, Baltimore, Maryland
  6. Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent, Belgium
  7. Johns Hopkins University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland
IAI Program

JSPG
IAI Project JSPG
Keywords
international science diplomacy
science policy
sustainability
agriculture
pesticides
PDFPolicy Analysis Comparing Pesticide Regulations What can Belgium EU and Washington State US Learn from One Another.pdf

Abstract

On a global scale, pesticide use has almost doubled since 1990, with the world market expected to reach $130  billion by the end of 2023. With a rapidly growing world population, the use of pesticides, also called plant protection products (PPP), has played an important role in increasing crop yields to ensure adequate food availability. In the early 1960s, growing concern and awareness about the potential for PPP to non-specifically affect the surrounding ecosystem led to a growing field of resistance. Governmental and intergovernmental bodies have since placed sustainable agricultural practices at the top of their agendas, leading to the use of PPP becoming an increasingly controversial topic of discussion. This policy analysis broadly describes PPP regulation systems in the US and the EU by providing historic accounts of key policy developments of PPP use and their regulations. A direct comparison between regulatory systems for PPP in the US and in the EU is then explored. Washington State and Belgium were chosen as case studies in order to provide a more detailed look into the complexities of such systems and allow for a comparative approach to examine the opportunities and challenges for policy changes. Additionally, suggestions as to what the EU and the US entities can learn from one another to improve the respective PPP regulation systems are investigated. Finally, the analysis explores the potential of strengthening transatlantic cooperation through the establishment of an intergovernmental framework that deals with collection of scientific evidence on PPP and their use. As a result, this analysis acts as a tool for policymakers to better comprehend the different approaches to PPP regulation in the US and the EU as the need to feed the growing world population becomes more urgent, all while safeguarding human and ecosystem health through well-informed policies on PPP use.