Almost half of world’s farmers poisoned by pesticides every year, experts find

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

A global study found that nearly half of farmers and farm workers—up to 433 million people—suffer acute pesticide poisoning annually, causing about 11,000 deaths each year, with the highest rates in southern Asia and Burkina Faso. The findings underscore an urgent need for international efforts to phase out hazardous pesticides and provide safer alternatives to protect agricultural workers’ health.

Nearly half of the world’s farmers and farm workers experience acute pesticide poisoning each year, according to a new international study that analyzed data collected between 2006 and 2023. The research, commissioned by the Pesticide Action Network and published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, estimates that between 402 million and 433 million cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning occur annually among the global farming population of approximately 934 million.

The highest regional tolls were reported in southern Asia, followed by southeast Asia and east Africa. At the national level, Burkina Faso recorded the greatest incidence, with nearly 84% of farmers and farm workers affected. The study also estimates that pesticide poisoning results in about 11,000 deaths annually, with nearly 60% of these fatalities occurring in India.

Executive Director of Pesticide Action Network India, Jayakumar Chelaton, described the findings as indicative of an urgent crisis that “can no longer be ignored.” The study calls for immediate international action, including implementation of a United Nations recommendation to phase out highly hazardous pesticides, whose use has nonetheless doubled globally since 1990 to reach 3.8 million tonnes in 2023.

Dr. Sheila Willis, head of international programmes at Pesticide Action Network UK, emphasized the need to provide farmers with safer alternatives to pesticides to reduce the health risks for agricultural workers and their families. The research did not examine the impact on roughly 84 million children engaged in farming, nor did it address long-term health effects, focusing instead on acute poisoning defined as illnesses occurring shortly after exposure.

Health and Environment Alliance Executive Director Génon Jensen expressed concern over both the immediate and chronic health consequences pesticide exposure poses for farm communities. Hélène Nicora, director general of Parkinson’s Europe, highlighted the growing body of evidence linking pesticide exposure to Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder. Several European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy, have recognized Parkinson’s as an occupational illness among farmers.

Farmers and workers are primarily exposed to pesticides during preparation and application, as well as through contact with treated crops and contaminated tools or clothing. In a recent webinar organized by Friends of the Earth Europe, Dutch farmer Rendert Algra recounted his personal experience, believing his Parkinson’s diagnosis is connected to years of pesticide use on his family farm.

The authors caution that despite this study’s comprehensive scope, data on pesticide poisoning remain incomplete. They urge the establishment of standardized surveillance and reporting systems to ensure more reliable, comparable information, thereby facilitating better prevention and policy responses to the widespread health hazards linked to pesticide use.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.