Unit 3. Pesticides. Historical overview

The historical overview of the application of pesticides begins with the tries to achieve pest control with the help of natural products and agricultural practices, as cut-and burn, culture rotation and chemical fertilization. Presented are the historical periods, during which inorganic and biological substances were used for pest control, and the introduction of synthetic organic chemicals, in order boost the capability to counter crop- and food-spoiling organisms and to achieve control of human and livestock disease vectors, in order to eradicate parasite-borne health- and life-threatening diseases in different geographical regions.