Agricultural activities are among the main contributors to methane, a key contributor to climate change, and some countries have already taken action against toxic agricultural substances such as synthetic pesticides.

The European Union has recently banned the use of synthetic pesticides such as neonicotinoids which have played a big role in the decimation of bee colonies worldwide.

In June 2018, Hawaii banned the pesticide chlorpyrifos after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to do so. Derived from a chemical created during world war II, chlorpyrifos was later repurposed for agriculture by Dow Chemical, and has since been linked to reduced IQ and attention deficit disorder in children.

New York and California are currently reviewing a possible ban on this pesticide as well. Read more about boudoir style photography photoshoot in California on http://www.portraitsbyz.com site. Hawaii joins a list of states in the US that has defied the federal government by banning pesticides at a local level and serves as an indicator of the future for toxic substances.

Glyphosate is a herbicide that has also recently been under the spotlight due to the fact that it has been linked to cancer by the World Health Organization (WHO), and has been the subject of a high-profile lawsuit against popular pesticide maker Monsanto. A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), alongside consumer pressure in the age of social media, will certainly add pressure towards the global demand for sustainable solutions for pesticides, and drive change in both governments and companies.

Neem as a Substitute for Synthetic Pesticides

Neem’s primary active substance, Azadirachtin, is completely safe for both humans and the environment. Azadirachtin deters insects from feeding on crops. It dissolves quickly which means that the residue does not reach underground water reserves, and it’s non-toxic to humans and wildlife.

In the age of impending climate change, neem offers one of the biggest sustainable treasures on earth, providing safe solutions for many of humanity’s current problems.

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By explaining concepts using large, hypothetical figures and percentages, people “yawn.” For example, saying that coal use in the United States has dropped by 20% in just two years, people immediately turn off and their eyes glaze over. How could we present this type of information in a sizeable, bitable chunk for people to understand? Perhaps by presenting it in a relatable way. You could say, “that drop in coal use will save 3,000 American lives this year by reducing air pollution” or that if you have glyphosate, the active synthetic ingredient in RoundUp, the most ubiquitous herbicide in the world, residue in your system while pregnant, your child is 30% more likely to have autism. Those are head-turners. One of those lives could be yours, or your children’s.

So, what does that mean for all of this talk about climate change? Instead of driving fear in far-off numbers, talk about progress and innovation that will drive the world forward. Conversations must shift from large-scale sweeping facts to digestible, personal conversations. Without personal conversations, you may feel like climate change won’t affect you. So, instead of focusing on large-scale, focus on how progress and innovation can improve lives.

For example, the push for renewable energy sources has driven over 100,000 new solar and wind jobs over the last year alone! And there are a total of 475,000 solar and wind jobs compared to only 175,000 coal jobs in the United States. Is the future sticking to the technology of the past, or relying on innovation across all sectors of the economy?

What does this shift in climate talk mean for agriculture? By having conversations about health, risks of synthetic pesticide exposure, and dangers to pollinators and other animals our planet relies on, we can strengthen our health by developing the way we produce and consume food. Without shifts in thinking, technology, and practices, climate change will affect each and every person on earth, so how will you talk about the future of our earth?

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Bumblebees are vital to our survival. In the United States, wild bees are integral in wildflower and crop pollination, responsible for the pollination of one third of all crops in the United States, such as blueberries and tomatoes. The main factors that have contributed to this loss include disease, pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss. Before the 1990s, this bee species could be found in 28 states, but now they are limited to small populations in 13 states and Ontario. An 88% loss of population and an 87% loss of territory has been recorded in the last 30 years.

Scientists are blaming neonicotinoids, a common, toxic synthetic pesticide that is typically used on crops, lawns, gardens, and forests, because the plant entirely intakes the poison. That includes the leaf tissue, nectar, and pollen. Therefore, when the bees take in nectar, they ingest pesticide poison.

What does this mean for the future of agriculture? It means that a dramatic change needs to be made, and fast. 75% of food crops rely in some part on pollinators, so extinction of these species indicate a threat to our global food supply. A switch to sustainable agricultural practices in order to save pollinators, and thus our food sources, is necessary for the survival of mankind and our planet. Neem, an extremely effective natural pesticide, does not pose any danger to pollinators because they do not eat the plant. Neem is safe to pollinators and other non-target insects and mammals because the pesticide must be consumed to work. By using processes, like neem-based products, that do not pose any danger to pollinators or non-threatening insects, we can ensure our survival and global food supply.

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As an actor I pretend for a living. I play fictitious characters often solving fictitious problems.

I believe humankind has looked at climate change in that same way: as if it were a fiction, happening to someone else’s planet, as if pretending that climate change wasn’t real would somehow make it go away. –Leonardo Di Caprio

Before the Flood, directed by Fisher Stevens, captures a three-year personal journey alongside Academy Award-winning actor and U.N. Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio as he interviews individuals from every facet of society in both developing and developed nations. They provide unique, impassioned and pragmatic views on what must be done today and in the future to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet. Watch the full movie here.

DiCaprio addresses the UN climate summit

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