Working Group 4: Risk balancing for agricultural production in developing countries

The potential impact of cadmium regulations on risk perception must be considered. Raising public awareness is critical.

Health Risk

• There is no conclusive evidence of an adverse impact of the cadmium in phosphate fertiliser on public health. Even in a developed country, like Australia, which has a long history of phosphate fertiliser application with a high cadmium content, the authorities do not consider cadmium a public health issue. However, zinc-deficient rice is more likely to take up cadmium from the soil and therefore, micronutrient management in rice-based production systems warrants consideration.
  
• Large scale and pervasive food insecurity, concomitant malnutrition, and ensuing low life expectancy by far outweigh the potential health risk from cadmium.

Agricultural Sustainability

• Traditionally fertiliser consumption in developing countries is low. There is evidence that low fertiliser use has considerable damage. For example, soil nutrient depletion, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, has resulted in low productivity and continuing poverty.
  
• There is a need for nutrient balancing which will result in higher economic returns to farmers, an improved environment and more nutritious food. Balanced fertilisation will require, among others, higher phosphate fertiliser use by farmers.
  
• Because of low phosphate application in developing countries it is most likely that there has been little accumulation of cadmium from fertilisers in the soil.
  
• It is possible that industrial activities in developing countries may make a major contribution to cadmium in soils under specific conditions at specific sites. Developing countries should identify these potential risks.
  
• The risk to agricultural sustainability can be balanced by development and adoption of best management practices; monitoring cadmium concentrations in food and soil; adoption of industry codes of practice; and the review and harmonisation of guidelines and regulations regarding agricultural input quality.
  
• The increased use of phosphate fertilisers has conservation benefits by reducing the need for expansion of crop production in ecologically-fragile areas (e.g., slash and burn agriculture).

Trade

• Cadmium regulations in food-importing countries should not imply that foods produced under regulatory regimes in developing countries constitute a health risk, which as a consequence, bar their products from market access.
  
• Developing countries should implement monitoring systems to ensure that their commodity specifications meet acceptable food standards to ensure global market access.

   

Further research

To achieve effective cadmium management from the crop-soil system to the food chain, it is imperative that a comprehensive benefit/cost analysis is conducted on cadmium control measures from all sources.