What Does "Reducing Pesticide Risk by 50%" Mean?

by Benjamin Warr

Reducing pesticide risk is different from reducing pesticide volume. Under the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the objective is to reduce the overall risk from pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals by at least 50% by 2030, rather than simply cutting the quantity of pesticides applied. This distinction is important because different pesticides vary greatly in their toxicity, persistence, mobility, and impacts on non-target organisms such as mammals (including humans), pollinators, soil biota, aquatic species, and natural enemies. As a result, a relatively small number of HHPs may account for a disproportionately large share of the overall toxic load and associated biodiversity and health risks.

To inform and measure progress in the implementation of GBF Target 7, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was tasked to convene experts to develop the Headline Indicator 7.2: Aggregated Total Applied Toxicity (ATAT) that has been adopted as Headline Indicator 7.2 in the Monitoring Framework for the GBF. ATAT does not measure the volume of pesticide use but instead combines information on both the quantity of pesticides applied and their toxicity, providing a more meaningful measure of environmental and health risks than pesticide volume alone.

Because ATAT accounts for both volume and toxicity, it highlights the importance of targeting those pesticides that contribute most to the national toxic load. For example, chlorpryrifos, an HHP, has been identified as an important contributor to the Total Applied Toxicity in Asia, Africa and S. America. In practice, phasing out HHPs is one of the most direct, measurable, and policy-relevant strategies for achieving GBF Target 7. While broader transitions toward integrated pest management, agroecological approaches, and lower-risk alternatives remain essential, removing HHPs, such as chlorpyrifos, can deliver substantial reductions in pesticide risk even before total pesticide use declines significantly.