The Legacy of Rachel Carson: Revisiting Silent Spring

“We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost's familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road — the one less traveled by — offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.” — Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962

Sparking modern consciousness about the potential impact of human activity on the planet, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) was a breakthrough moment in the environmental movement. The book sold over 500,000 copies in 24 countries within a year of publication, earning a spot as a New York Times bestseller.

Carson’s intention was to raise awareness about the connection between pollution and public health, as well as the health of the planet. Drawing on existing research, she underscored the proven dangers of DDT, which was being used almost indiscriminately at the time to control pests in US agriculture.

The book prompted global backlash from pesticide producers, who claimed that Carson had greatly exaggerated the impact of DDT on the environment. However, public interest in the subject created political pressure to enact definitive change. The Clean Air Act was passed in 1963, and in late 1969, President Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act. The interest Carson’s work sparked in environmental issues was evident in the mass turnout for the first Earth Day protests in 1970 and the subsequent efforts by activists worldwide to shift towards more sustainable, renewable solutions.

Carson’s initial work in uncovering the dangers of chemical pesticides remains relevant and timely today. Global pesticide use soared by 80% from 1990 to 2022, and between 2000 and 2019, pesticide use in agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa rose from 64,000 metric tonnes to 108,000 metric tonnes. The most commonly used pesticides in the region belong to a group of endocrine disruptor compounds and include DDT, the chemical at the heart of Silent Spring.

Research in the 70 years since the book’s publication has confirmed the harmful impacts of these pesticides on human health and ecosystems. Pesticides are responsible for the poisoning of 385 million people globally every year. A 2021 study found a link between pesticide use and health problems, including disorders affecting brain function and reproduction.

In 2018, under the requirements of the USAID FOODSCAP Project, 1,139 samples of fresh produce intended for export and local markets were tested by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Pesticides were detected in 46% of the samples, while 11% contained residues exceeding EU maximum residue levels. The food items with the highest residues were kale, peas, and capsicum.

The increased uptake in pesticide use across the continent stems primarily from cost pressures. The cost of chemical sprays is ultimately offset by higher yield returns, and mechanical or manual labour for pest control is often more expensive than chemical options.

However, despite the rise in pesticide use, food insecurity and malnutrition have not improved. Between 2019 and 2021, approximately 20% of people on the continent were undernourished, up from 16% between 2016 and 2018.

The Haller Foundation works with smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa to provide alternative methods for protecting crops and boosting yields that do not rely on harmful chemicals. At our demonstration plot, we host weekly sessions on regenerative agricultural practices, including pest control, helping train the next generation of smallholder farmers in techniques that protect both their health and the ecosystems they rely on for their livelihoods.

Developed in collaboration with smallholders to ensure it meets their needs, the Haller Farmers App provides instructions for producing organic pesticides using neem tree bark, leaves, and hot peppers, as well as alternative methods for protecting crops from pests.

The Haller Farmers App can be downloaded on the App and Google Play Stores.

To support our work championing the next generation of smallholder farmers, you can donate to Haller.