A new report from the environmental group Friends of the Earth has sounded the alarm over the detrimental impact of pesticides on pollinators, biodiversity, and climate stability, holding the food retail industry accountable. Released alongside the group’s annual retailer scorecard, the findings expose glaring gaps in how some of the largest U.S. grocery chains address the risks posed by toxic pesticide use.
The report focuses on four key crops—almonds, apples, soy, and corn—whose pesticide usage could lead to financial, climate, and biodiversity losses exceeding $200 billion between 2024 and 2050. Pollinators, including bees, are at the centre of this environmental and economic crisis, as their decline jeopardises crop production and ecological health.
Retailer performance: A mixed picture
The scorecard evaluates the largest U.S. grocery retailers on their efforts to reduce pesticide use and promote sustainable agriculture. While a few companies have demonstrated leadership, many fall short. Among those receiving a failing grade (“F”) are major names such as Wakefern, Publix, Dollar General, 7-Eleven Inc., Hy-Vee, Walgreens, H-E-B, BJ’s, Amazon, and Wegmans.
Ironically, while Amazon scored poorly, its subsidiary Whole Foods achieved the only “A” grade. Whole Foods has committed to time-bound goals for reducing pesticide use, requiring fresh produce suppliers to adopt ecological farming methods verified by third-party assessments. Additionally, eight companies have introduced policies encouraging suppliers to minimise the use of harmful pesticides, including neonicotinoids, organophosphates, and glyphosate, and to transition to safer alternatives.
Escalating risks under weak regulatory oversight
The timing of the report adds urgency, as it coincides with expectations of weaker pesticide regulation under the incoming Trump administration. “The Environmental Protection Agency will likely do even less to mitigate the damage of pesticides, putting even more onus on companies to address the escalating risks,” said Kendra Klein, deputy director of science at Friends of the Earth.
Klein emphasised the pivotal role retailers play in driving change: “Food retailers must urgently reduce their use of pesticides and advance organic and other ecologically regenerative approaches. They have the opportunity to lead in the fight against biodiversity collapse and climate change, helping to ensure Americans have continued access to healthy food.”
Pollinators: A bellwether for environmental health
Pollinators like bees are critical to agriculture, with an estimated one-third of global crops relying on pollination, including nearly three-quarters of fruits and vegetables. Declining pollinator populations, driven in part by pesticide exposure, are a stark warning of broader biodiversity risks. Additionally, pesticides are harming soil ecosystems, further threatening sustainable food production.
The report highlights alarming statistics: 89% of almond crop areas, 72% of apples, 100% of corn, and 40% of soy receive more than one lethal dose of insecticides toxic to bees. These findings provide a quantitative basis for assessing the financial and ecological impacts of pesticide use.
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The financial toll of pesticides
Beyond environmental consequences, the food retail industry faces substantial economic risks from continued reliance on harmful pesticides. The report estimates that climate damage costs alone will reduce sales for soy, corn, apples, and almonds by $4.5 billion between 2024 and 2050. Biodiversity risks, primarily stemming from pollinator losses, are valued even higher, at $34.3 billion over the same period.
Direct costs include the expense of purchasing and applying pesticides, associated CO2 emissions, and reduced crop yields. Indirect costs encompass the cascading effects of biodiversity loss and weakened ecosystems, which are essential for resilient food systems.
The way forward: Leadership in sustainable practices
The report underscores the need for a transformative shift in agricultural practices. Retailers like Whole Foods demonstrate that progress is possible, but the broader industry must act with urgency. Key steps include supporting organic agriculture, reducing reliance on hazardous chemicals, and implementing rigorous supplier verification systems.
As biodiversity and climate crises escalate, the food retail sector has both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead. Addressing the risks associated with pesticides is not merely an environmental imperative but a strategic necessity for long-term financial stability and food security.
The clock is ticking for meaningful action. With pollinators vanishing and ecosystems under strain, the choices made by retailers today will shape the future of food, biodiversity, and the planet.
