"Pest Management at the Crossroads" will be officially released
October 15th. The 288 page book is the product of a two-year Consumers Union
project. The motivation for undertaking this project, self-financed by CU,
included the growing evidence of slipping efficacy of pesticide-dependent
pest management systems, frustration over the growing costs and
intrusiveness of regulation and its failure to substantially reduce risks,
and the encouraging progress made by farmer-innovators and pest management
consultants working to bring biointnesive IPM to the field. The book will
serve as a "roadmap" for a multi-year effort by CU, and hopefully other
organizations and institutions, to change the focus of pest management
policies, and the direction of public and private investment patterns in new
pest management technology and systems. While the book stresses that
leadership and support for change must come predominantly from the
marketplace and private sector, we also see important roles for government
in investing in S+T, reformulating the National IPM Initiative, the
collection and dissemination of information and in "priming the pump"
through the procurement process and in managing pests on public lands.
CU is marketing "PMAC" through the Internet, paid advertising,
direct mail and other mechanisms. A World Wide Web page has been developed
to promote discussion on the book, implementation of its recommendations,
and to help widen and ease access to the book for those wanting to purchase
a copy. See the page at http://www.pmac.net The web site has the
complete text of the CU press packet, as well as several hard-to-find
articles and letters on IPM, pesticides and human health, and the new food
safety bill, H.R. 1627, "The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996." If
support can be secured, the web site will grow rapidly as the debate about
the book widens. SANETers will enjoy the section on the page, under "IPM in
the Field," entitled "The Potato Debate."
Professional Mailing and Distribution Services, Inc. is handling
distribution for Consumers Union. The book costs $35.95 ($29.95, plus $6.00
shipping and handling for domestic sales). (For international sales, the
shipping and handling charge is $9.00, so total cost is $38.95). Orders
must be accompanied by check, or credit card information. Phone orders can
be made by calling 301-617-7815. Fax orders to: 301-206-9789. E-mail
orders to: pmac@pmds.com E-mail orders can also be made through the web
site. Volume discounts are available for purchases over 10 and 30 copies.
Thanks for passing this announcement along to others who might have an
interest in this book.
And for those who have enjoyed the Benbrook-Avery debates in the
past, we go at it again in person at the annual meeting of the Western Crop
Protection Association October 25th in San Diego. I am sure it will be
entertaining if nothing else. I have not decided whether to tape it, but I
might, so I can put excerpts onto the web page.
Also, please note the section of the web page "For Students and
Teachers Only..." Let me know if you are interested in participating in the
proposed, interactive curriculum development process.
chuck
Charles Benbrook 202-546-5089 (voice)
Benbrook Consulting Services 202-546-5028 (fax)
409 First Street S.E. benbrook@hillnet.com [e-mail]
Washington, D.C. 20003