what: Pesticide Action Network (PAN) co-ordinates nongovernmental organisations, institutions and individuals in over 90 countries. Its mission is to switch from the use of hazardous pesticides to ecologically sound alternatives. Its projects and activities are implemented by five autonomous regional centres (North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia).

why: pesticides are hazardous to human health and the environment, undermine local and global food security and threaten agricultural biodiversity. Yet these pervasive chemicals are aggressively promoted by multinational corporations, government agencies, and other players. The sector accounts for more than US$35 billion a year.

how: PAN Regional Centres link local and international consumer, labour, health, environment and agriculture groups into an international citizens' action network. This organisation challenges the global proliferation of pesticides, defends basic rights to health and environmental quality, and works to insure the transition to a just and viable society. Here below few examples of their work:

• Report on Practical Pesticide Reduction – This 2004 report addresses practical ways for pesticide reduction. It looks at UK case studies on apples, salads, wheat and potato and actions needed to get more uptake by farmers.



• PURE (Pesticides Use Reduction in Europe) is a campaign launched in May 2002 by PAN Europe lobbying for having specific measures to be included in a European Union directive legally-binding on the 25 European Member States.



• People’s Caravan for Food Sovereignty: it is a grassroots led mass mobilization that has involved 13 Asian countries - from Mongolia down to Indonesia, from India to Japan. It is promoted by PAN Asia and aims to awareness raising on the issue of hunger and malnutrition, trade, genetic engineering, and the behaviour of agrochemical multinationals.