The use of pesticides is a subject of intense public debate. Whether in media, legal, terminological or political terms, the subject is migrating from a strictly agricultural universe to a global, social problem.

Given the complexity of current and future issues, Pesticides provides a forum for multidisciplinary dialogue and debate on plant protection products within the humanities and social sciences. It presents reflections on the discursive and argumentative activity of the various players and arenas in the debate, and on the development and testing of consensus through controversy and counter-discourse.

This book examines the scientific and communication practices of economic and industrial players (influence and lobbying), agricultural practices in terms of pesticide exposure, and the legal proceedings and initiatives of local authorities and associations. It also seeks to shed light on the media coverage of health and environmental issues surrounding pesticides.

Nataly Botero is Associate Professor in Information and Communication Sciences at the Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, France. She works on the media coverage of ecological issues in France.

Hélène Ledouble is Associate Professor at the University of Toulon, France. She works in applied linguistics and textual data analysis and is particularly interested in popularizing discourse on environmental issues.

François Allard-Huver is Associate Professor in Information and Communication studies at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest, France, and a researcher at CHUS. He is interested in environmental and health controversies and polemics in the public sphere.