Weed Science - A Plea for Thought - Revisited

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. The Need for Historical Perspective

   • Robert L. Zimdahl

   Pages 1-23

3. Pesticides and Value Questions

   • Robert L. Zimdahl

   Pages 25-30

4. The Pesticide Paradigm

   • Robert L. Zimdahl

   Pages 31-41

5. A Question of Faith

   • Robert L. Zimdahl

   Pages 43-63

6. The Future

   • Robert L. Zimdahl

   Pages 65-70

7. Back Matter

   Pages 71-73

   PDF

Weed scientists are confident of increasing production through agricultural technology, including herbicides, but do not must ask if the moral obligation to feed people is sufficient justification for the benefits and harms achieved. A continuing, rigorous examination of the science’s goals that leads to appropriate change is advocated. Weed scientists have a research consensus - a paradigm - Weeds must be controlled. Herbicides are the best control technology. Agriculture's practitoners should discuss the necessity and risks of their technology. Discussion must include scientific evidence and value-laden arguments.

• Weed Science
• herbicides
• historical reflection
• paradigm
• values

From the reviews:

“This intriguing short volume is a series of philosophical essays pleading for weed scientists to consider more carefully their research and its consequences for society, human health and the environment. … I recommend this to all who wish to consider how weed science could develop; but not only weed science. This is a salutary tale for all scientists – remember that there is a wider world out there!” (Ken Davies, Experimental Agriculture, Vol. 49 (1), 2013)

• Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Manage, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA

  Robert L. Zimdahl

Policies and ethics