Cotton: The Dirtiest Crop in the World

The world’s dirtiest crop is one that you put on your body every single day: cotton. Though cotton is only grown on 2.4% of the world’s farmland, over 16% of all pesticides produced are applied to this globally utilized crop, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Even though the use of cotton in clothes has dramatically decreased since the discovery of synthetic fibers, cotton is still used in around 60% of women’s clothes and 75% of men’s clothes. This means that cotton is still a significant commodity in the world, with increasing pressure to produce cheaper, disposable clothes for our rising populations. However, there are devastating environmental and health impacts associated with cotton production.

Cotton is a very delicate plant, highly susceptible to weeds and other pests. In order to effectively produce enough cotton, cotton-growers use pesticides like Aldicarb, produced by Bayer, to combat thrips, aphids, spider mites, lygus, fleahoppers, and leafminers. The cotton plant is also highly damaged by soil nematodes, so this highly dangerous pesticide is primarily used as a nematicide. Unfortunately, Aldicarb can be lethal when ingested or inhaled, even when not in the direct spray area. There are many reports of residents living nearby to cotton fields experiencing symptoms such as wheezing and coughing during spray times. Some have even died of respiratory failure due to the breakdown of acetylcholine in the synapse after severe exposure. The health impact of this synthetic pesticide has been so serious that Bayer is phasing out the production and sale of Aldicarb by 2018.

Humankind is not only at risk of exposure through chemical spraying, but also through the food system. Over 65% of cotton produced winds up in our food chain. How? Cottonseed oil is produced for human consumption. Cotton is also ground up and included in livestock feed, enabling exposure to dangerous synthetic chemicals.

Not only is conventional cotton production a major health risk, but it is also destroying the environment. Cotton requires massive amounts of water – roughly 20,000 liters are needed to produce only 1 kg of cotton, enough to make a single shirt and pair of jeans. This massive water requirement, combined with toxic synthetic pesticide inputs, has led to the detriment of ecosystems throughout the world, including the Aral Sea in central Asia, the Indus River area in Pakistan, and the Rio Grande in the United States.

Now, consumer knowledge is increasing and more people are demanding organically produced cotton. However, being such a weak plant, cotton needs a powerful natural herbicide, insecticide, and nematicide, to allow it to thrive. Neem is the answer. This natural alternative in crop care combats weeds, pests like cotton aphids, and is a powerful nematicide, while allowing the beneficial insects and microbes of the soil to thrive. Be smart, buy organic, support sustainable agriculture and protect the environment and your health!