Beyond human health – Exploring farmers' perspectives on pesticides in Swiss agriculture

Farmers face numerous challenges and hazards that may affect health. Plant protection products (PPPs) are often investigated and criticized in terms of their effects on human and environmental health. However, research and public debates seldomly discuss farmers’ perspectives on plant protection-related health risks. Using qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with 28 farmers, ethnographic observations, and one 3-day farm visit, we examined how farmers perceive and manage health risks related to PPPs and other plant protection strategies. Contrary to some public opinions in Switzerland viewing farmers as "polluters", participants evaluated plant protection-related health risks for humans and the environment. Thereby, farmers often expressed greater concerns for environmental than human health. However, results further highlight that farmers’ perceptions of the severity of these health risks were heterogeneous. Farmers employed different management strategies to minimize health risks and viewed regulatory bodies and technological advancements as important drivers for reducing plant protection-related risks for human and environmental health. They also acknowledged their role and sometimes limited scope of action in a complex system with various economic, socio-political, individual, regulatory, and environmental constraints. Lastly, farmers perceived the importance of non-human health in and for their livelihoods and highlighted their dependence on weather and climate patterns. Therefore, the present work concludes that moving beyond the distinction of human and environmental health in practice and policy may offer the opportunity to jointly improve human and non-human health and well-being and better integrate farmers’ realities into the development toward sustainable agriculture in Switzerland. • Swiss farmers perceive human and environmental health risks in plant protection. • Environmental health was often of greater concern than human health impacts. • Regulations and technology are seen as important tools to reduce health risks. • Participants acknowledge a healthy environment as crucial for their livelihoods. • Swiss farmers perceive limited scope of action in a complex agricultural system.