This project investigates and evaluates rationales for the use of pesticide technology in the United States. On the one hand, pesticides are regarded as valuable tools in food production and in the protection of public heath, yet on the other hand, pesticide use has given rise to serious concerns relating to both public health and the condition of the environment. In light of these concerns, people are calling for a reassessment of the risks and benefits of pesticide use. Surveys indicate the possibility of a significant shift in public values, with demands for cheap and cosmetically appealing food conflicting with demands for no pesticides. To evaluate the merits of these apparent conflicts, it is necessary to obtain factual information from a wide range of sources and to reassess the value judgments forming the basis for policy decisions. This study will attempt to obtain and integrate information on fourteen diverse topics, ranging from the extent and economic benefits of pesticide use to the environmental and social costs of pesticides. Knowledgeable scientists and scholars will collect, assess, evaluate and summarize the latest scientific information about pesticide use. They will consider how conflicting moral objectives can or should be reconciled; what role public and private groups and organizations should play in determining pesticide policy; and what guidance should inform government agencies and regulations about pesticide use. Findings will be disseminated at a meeting in Washington, DC, and via a summary of the findings and a volume of the collected papers. This research has an important and timely focus; its results will be useful and accessible to a wide audience. The qualifications and track record of the principal investigators are excellent. The participants are highly qualified and well balanced. The proposal and addendum provide adequate information about the activities plan, and about the value issues that will be investigated. The proposal is recommended for support, with high priority.
