Pesticides in the Middle East and North Africa are widely used to protect crops and ensure yields. Yet, behind this dependency lies a deeper story about double standards in pesticide trade, weak regulation of agrochemicals, and the struggle for food sovereignty. While many highly hazardous pesticides are banned in Europe, they continue to be sold and used, in MENA countries such as Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Morocco. These chemicals contaminate soil and water, harm biodiversity, and threaten the health of farmers, farmworkers, and rural communities; in a region already facing acute water scarcity, and fragile soils.
Despite the challenges, change is taking root. Across the region, communities, researchers, and local organizations are proving that farming can thrive without depending on harmful chemicals. Agroecology, permaculture, and integrated pest management offer practical pathways that reduce pesticide use, and restore soil health. Regional innovation, such as locally developed biopesticides in Lebanon, can support ecological agriculture when coupled with enabling policies and institutions.
The Pesticide Atlas - MENA Edition highlights both the problematics that sustain chemical dependency and the local movements that are already forging alternatives. It draws on data and analysis from across the region. We hope that the atlas will encourage informed debate, empower communities, and contribute to a regional transition toward healthy and sustainable food systems that work with nature rather than against it.