Minor Use Summit

Pesticide use on speciality crops is being discussed at FAO this week at a "Global Minor Use" summit. In a global first over 300 crop safety and pesticide management officials and other experts are meeting this week at FAO to discuss challenges associated with pesticide use on "speciality crops" like garlic, ginger and chilies. The event starts today and runs through December 7.

Unlike large-area crops such as corn, wheat, cotton or rice, specialty crops have traditionally been produced in relatively small amounts. As a result, studies on the proper use of pesticides in their cultivation have not been as systematic or widespread as they have been for major cash crops. This poses problems for producers, many of them in the developing world, who are struggling to export their goods to overseas markets with strong safety standards for imports.