Conventional Farms Increase Pesticide Use Next to Organic Fields, Study Shows

A study in California observed an increase in pesticide use by conventional farms located near organic fields, suggesting a response to higher pest threats. This finding raises questions about the coexistence of organic and conventional farming practices and their mutual impacts. The study, led by Ashley Larsen from the University of California, Santa Barbara, also notes that organic farms clustered together tend to use fewer pesticides, benefiting from natural pest controls.