The chemicals we use to grow our food are not just a local problem, but rather a global one.
As Rachel Carson and Rachel Steingraber remind us, pesticides and industrial chemicals travel far beyond the fields where they are sprayed, accumulating in ecosystems thousands of miles away, from our Utah rivers all the way to the Arctic. This “Arctic paradox” illustrates that chemical pollution is not contained by borders, and yet our regulatory oversight remains fragmented and inadequate, leaving global communities at risk.
In the United States, industrial agriculture relies heavily on pesticides and petrochemical-based inputs. These chemicals have been linked to rising rates of cancer and other chronic illnesses in communities living near farms, refineries and chemical plants. Families often have little recourse to protect themselves, and the burden falls disproportionately on those with fewer resources to avoid exposure.
It is clear that we must rethink the way we grow food and manage chemicals in our environment. Strengthening regulatory power to limit the use of harmful pesticides, increasing transparency in chemical reporting, and investing in research on safe alternatives through curious chemistry are essential first steps. At the same time, government subsidies should prioritize regenerative and pesticide-free farming practices, making sustainable agriculture economically viable for farmers and consumers. By supporting these systems, we reduce chemical exposure, protect biodiversity, and help restore the health of our soils and waters.
Public demand for transparency and accountability in chemical use is growing. We cannot continue to allow short-term industrial efficiency to outweigh long-term human and environmental health. Reducing pesticide intake, holding chemical producers accountable, and incentivizing safer farming practices is the matter at hand today, not tomorrow, but today.
Anika Boyden, Salt Lake City
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