The global population is set to reach 10 billion by 2050, placing even greater pressure on the planet for resources. Of particular concern is the population explosion in Africa, which will contribute over 25% of the total global population. Approximately one-third of the world’s land cover has been changed, decreasing biodiversity and adversely affecting the global climate. Agriculture poses the second greatest threat to birds. In the United Kingdom, a 60% reduction in farmland birds has been reported, and in North America, 74% of farm-associated species have declined. However, research on the impact of agriculture, and its associated pesticides in particular, on South African birds remains scarce.

South Africa has over 40 000 commercial farms, covering 38% of the country’s land surface. In addition, there are over 200 000 small-scale commercial farmers and approximately 3.1 million households are involved in subsistence agricultural activities. Africa’s pesticide use grew by nearly 70% between 1999 and 2020 and will continue to rise as agriculture expands. South Africa is the greatest pesticide user in Africa, accounting for 2% of global use and uses more pesticides per hectare than the United States. There are roughly 500 registered active ingredients and over 9000 agrochemical products on South African shelves. Alarmingly, nearly one-third of pesticides used in developing countries do not meet international quality standards, which poses a significant risk to human and environmental health in these regions.

Despite the large quantities of pesticides being applied, many agrochemical impacts on birds have not been assessed in the field. Typically, studies are laboratory-based, using a single species and focusing on acute toxicity. Such studies ignore sublethal effects, species-specific variability, cocktail effects of multiple pesticides, and diverse exposure pathways. They also do not account for community, population, or transgenerational impacts.

With this in mind, BirdLife South Africa launched the Birds and Agrochemicals Project in October 2023. This project will determine the current pesticide use and exposure risk to bird species occurring on croplands and will ultimately inform effective and long-term mitigation strategies within the agricultural sector.

Direct impacts of agrochemicals on birds:

• Causes death.
• Affects behaviour – reduces territorial defence, greater predator vulnerability, increased lethargy, decreased parental care.
• Reduces breeding success – eggshell thinning, slower chick growth rates, embryo malformation.
• Influences physiological processes – appetite suppression, weight loss, reduced immunity, poor temperature regulation, endocrine disruption, disorientation.

Indirect impacts of agrochemicals on birds:

• Habitat reduction – herbicides reduce shrubs and ground cover, making birds more vulnerable to predation and reducing potential nest sites.
• Food source declines – insecticides reduce arthropod availability to insectivorous birds. Herbicides reduce weeds, which arthropods and granivorous birds may feed on.

How can you help?

• Reduce your pesticide use at home. Use non-chemical methods where possible.

• Change your mind – bugs are not bad. They are a food source, a predator, or a provider of valuable ecosystem services.

• Engage with your local retailers. As a consumer, question where your food comes from and how it was grown.

• Choose sustainably grown produce. Your local farmer’s market is a great source for this, as you can engage directly with the grower and reduce your carbon footprint.

• Spread the word and raise awareness. Many people do not know about the long-lasting effects of a chemical once it enters the environment.
• To offer your support to our Birds and Agrochemicals project, kindly visit Donate – BirdLife South Africa. With your support, we can have a greater impact.