A Precautionary Tale: How One Small Town Banned Pesticides

GUEST: Philip Ackerman-Leist, Professor at Green Mountain College in Vermont where he established the college's farm and sustainable agriculture curriculum. He is also the Director of the college's Farm and Food project, and author of Rebuilding the Food Shed, and Up Tunket Road. His newest book is A Precautionary Tale: How One Small Town Banned Pesticides, Preserved its Food Heritage, and Inspired a Movement

BACKGROUND: The tiny picturesque town of Mals, in northern Italy is an unlikely leader in the fight against toxic pesticide use. The 5,300 residents and their mayor made history when they successfully banned the use of all pesticides through a referendum some years ago.

Mals is part of a growing apple producing industry, which had brought with it increasing reliance on glyphosate and other toxic pesticides promoted and sold by companies like Monsanto. Now, this small town has offered a model for how people the world over can use the tools of direct democracy to preserve their soil, food, air, and water.

Telling the story of Mals in a new book called A Precautionary Tale is Philip Ackerman-Leist.