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New Report from the Wallace Institiute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A NEW REPORT FROM THE WALLACE INSTITUTE

MAY 1997

******************

THE MYTHS AND REALITIES OF PESTICIDE REDUCTION: 
A Reader's Guide to Understanding the Full Economic Impacts


Debate over pesticide policy often boils down to the question of whether the
social risks of using some pesticides outweighs their benefits.  The full
implementation of last year's Food
Quality Protection Act is likely to stimulate this debate and generate a new
round of economic
studies that attempt to predict the impacts on consumers and agricultural
producers from the loss or restriction of certain pesticides.  If these new
studies are like their predecessors, however, they may leave many readers
confused or troubled because pesticide reduction studies often fail to
convey their underlying economic assumptions to lay readers.  
 
The Myths and Realities of Pesticide Reduction: A Reader's Guide to
Understanding the Full Economic Impacts investigates the common themes in a
diverse body of current research on
pesticide economics.  Author Edward Jaenicke identifies four broad reasons
why pesticide 
restriction studies leave many readers confused.  In particular, current
studies: 
     
      - Often do not examine the benefits of pesticide reduction.
      - Ignore farmers  innovative adjustments to new pesticide restrictions.
      - Often fail to put predicted costs in perspective.
      - Generally ignore the full range of policy alternatives.

The report poses and discusses several questions, in the form of a
checklist, that readers
should consider when they are trying to understand the assumptions
underlying the studies 
economic predictions.  Studies that adhere to this checklist will better
inform the public as to the complete economic consequences of pesticide
reduction policies.  Copies of the Wallace Institute's new report may be
ordered for $6.00 a piece.  Please send a check payable in U.S. funds or a
money order to the H. A. Wallace I.A.A. at:

Henry A Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture
9200 Edmonston Rd Ste 117
Greenbelt  MD  20770-1551

Phone: 301-441-8777
Fax:   301-220-0164
E-mail: hawiaa@access.digex.net
Web site: www.hawiaa.org