Do we really need pesticides? - Fernan Pérez-Gálvez

譯者: MIin Tzu Hsieh 審譯者: CPR weng

In 1845, Ireland's vast potato fields were struck by an invasive fungal disease

1845 年，愛爾蘭大量馬鈴薯田 遭到一種侵入性真菌疾病的侵襲

that rapidly infested this staple crop.

迅速影響這項主要糧食作物

The effect was devastating.

後果非常慘烈

One million people died of famine,

一百萬人死於飢荒

and over a million more were forced to leave Ireland.

超過一百萬人被迫離開愛爾蘭

Nowadays, we avoid such agricultural catastrophes with the help of pesticides.

如今，我們使用農藥 避免像這樣的農業災難發生

Those are a range of manmade chemicals that control insects,

農藥是各種人工化學品 用來防制昆蟲

unwanted weeds,

雜草

funguses,

真菌

rodents,

齧齒類動物

and bacteria

以及細菌

that may threaten our food supply.

那些會威脅到食物供應的東西

They've become an essential part of our food system.

農藥已成為我們食物鏈中重要的一環

As populations have grown, monoculture, single crop farming,

隨著人口增長，單一作物種植

has helped us feed people efficiently.

有助於有效供給食物

But it's also left our food vulnerable to extensive attack by pests.

但也讓作物變得脆弱 容易受到害蟲侵犯

In turn, we've become more dependent on pesticides.

因此我們變得更依賴農藥

Today, we annually shower over 5 billion pounds of pesticides across the Earth

現今，全球每年噴灑 超過五十億磅的農藥

to control these unwanted visitors.

來阻擋這些不受歡迎的訪客

The battle against pests, especially insects,

對害蟲的防治，尤其是昆蟲

has marked agriculture's long history.

在農業史上已經有很長一段歷史

Records from thousands of years ago

幾千年前的紀錄

suggest that humans actively burned some of their crops after harvest

提到人類會在收成後焚燒作物

to rid them of pests.

以驅趕害蟲

There's even evidence from ancient times that we recruited other insects to help.

甚至有證據顯示 古代人利用其他昆蟲幫忙

In 300 A.D., Chinese farmers specially bred ferocious predatory ants

在公元 300 年 中國農夫養殖食肉性螞蟻

in orange orchards to protect the trees from other bugs.

來保護柑橘園的果樹不受其他蟲侵害

Later, as large-scale farming spread,

之後，隨著農業規模化

we began sprinkling arsenic, lead, and copper treatments on crops.

我們開始對農作物 噴灑砷、鉛、銅等化學品

But these were incredibly toxic to humans as well.

但這對人體也可說是劇毒

As our demand for more, safer produce increased,

隨著我們對更多 更安全的食物需求量增加

so did the need for effective chemicals

對有效化學品的需求也增加

that could control pests on a grander scale.

可以大規模控制害蟲

This ushered in the era of chemical pesticides.

農業進入化學農藥時代

In 1948, a Swiss chemist named Paul Hermann Müller

1948 年，瑞士化學家 保羅·赫爾曼·穆勒

was awarded a Nobel Prize for his discovery

得到諾貝爾獎

因為他發現

of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, also known as DDT.

雙對氯苯基三氯乙烷 也就是所謂的 DDT

This new molecule had unparalleled power to control many insect species

這種新分子具有前所未有的效果

能夠殺害許多昆蟲

until the 1950s, when insects became resistant to it.

直到 1950 年代 昆蟲開始產生抗藥性

Worse, the chemical actually drove dramatic declines in bird populations,

更糟的是，這種農藥 讓鳥類數量大幅減少

poisoned water sources,

汙染了水源

and was eventually found to cause long-term health problems in humans.

最後也發現會引起人體長期健康問題

By 1972, DDT had been banned in the United States,

1972 年，美國已經禁止使用 DDT

and yet traces still linger in the environment today.

然而現今的環境中仍能找到它的殘留

Since then, chemists have been searching for alternatives.

從那時候，化學家開始尋找替代方案

With each new wave of inventions, they've encountered the same obstacle -

每一波的新發明 他們都會遭遇同樣的障礙

rapid species evolution.

物種的迅速演化

As pesticides destroy pest populations,

農藥殺死部分害蟲

they leave behind only the most resistant individuals.

存活下來的是最具有抗藥性的害蟲

They then pass on their pesticide-resisting genes

牠們接著把具有抗藥性的基因

to the next generation.

傳給下一代

That's lead to the rise of super bugs,

導致了超級害蟲的出現

such as the Colorado potato beetle,

像是科羅拉多金花蟲

which is resistant to over 50 different insecticides.

牠們對超過 50 種農藥免疫

Another downside is that other bugs get caught in the crossfire.

另一個缺點是其他蟲被捲入這場風波

Some of these are helpful predators of plant pests or vital pollinators,

牠們有些是對植物有益的昆蟲 或是重要的授粉昆蟲

so erasing them from agriculture wipes out their benefits, too.

消滅牠們也消除牠們帶來的農業利益

Pesticides have improved over time

農藥越來越進步

and are currently regulated by strict safety standards,

目前也受到嚴格安全品管限制

but they still have the potential to pollute soil and water,

但它們仍對土壤和水源有潛在的汙染

impact wildlife,

影響野生動物

and even harm us.

甚至危害人類

So considering all these risks, why do we continue using pesticides?

考慮到這些風險 為什麼我們仍繼續使用殺蟲劑呢？

Although they're imperfect,

雖然它們並非十全十美

they currently may be our best bet against major agricultural disasters,

它們目前仍是我們對抗 主要農業災害的最佳選擇

not to mention mosquito-born diseases.

更不用說對抗蚊媒傳染病

Today, scientists are on a quest for alternative pest control strategies

現在，科學家還在尋找 控制害蟲的替代方案

that balance the demands of food production

來平衡食物供應

with environmental concerns.

以及環境問題

Nature has become a major source of inspiration,

大自然成為我們主要的靈感來源

from natural plant and fungal chemicals that can repel or attract insects,

從可以驅趕或吸引昆蟲的 自然植栽和真菌製品

to recruiting other insects as crop bodyguards.

到利用害蟲的蟲類天敵保護農作物

We're also turning to high-tech solutions, like drones.

我們也轉向採用高科技方式

像是無人機

Programmed to fly over crops,

透過操作在作物上空飛行

these machines can use their sensors and GPS

這些機器可以使用偵測器和 GPS

to carry out more targeted sprays

執行更多精確地噴藥

that limit a pesticide's wider environmental impact.

減少農藥對環境更多的影響

With a combination of biological understanding,

透過對生物的了解

environmental awareness,

環境意識

and improved technologies,

以及科技進步的結合

we have a better chance of finding a holistic solution to pests.

我們更有機會可以找出 對抗害蟲的方法

Chemical pesticides may never shake their controversial reputation,

化學農藥具爭議性的地位屹立不搖

but with their help,

但在它們的幫助下

we can ensure that agricultural catastrophes

我們可以確保農業災難

stay firmly in our past.

不再發生