that rapidly infested this staple crop.

疾病迅速感染這種作物

The effect was devastating.

造成災難性的影響

One million people died of famine,

一百萬人死於饑荒

and over a million more were forced to leave Ireland.

超過一百萬人被迫遷離愛爾蘭

Nowadays, we avoid such agricultural catastrophes with the help of pesticides.

如今，我們藉由農藥的幫忙來避免這樣的農業災害

Those are a range of manmade chemicals that control insects,

農藥是一些人工的化學物質可以控制昆蟲、

unwanted weeds,

不想要的雜草、

funguses,

真菌、

rodents,

齧齒類動物、

and bacteria

和細菌

that may threaten our food supply.

等等可能危害到糧食產量的東西

They've become an essential part of our food system.

它們已經成為我們食物系統中重要的一環

As populations have grown, monoculture, single crop farming,

隨著人口增長，單作（種植單一作物）

has helped us feed people efficiently.

協助我們有效率地餵養人民

But it's also left our food vulnerable to extensive attack by pests.

但這也讓我們的食物對廣泛的病蟲害顯得脆弱

In turn, we've become more dependent on pesticides.

轉而，我們更加地依賴農藥

Today, we annually shower over 5 billion pounds of pesticides across the Earth

如今，全世界每年傾注超過50億磅的農藥

to control these unwanted visitors.

來控制這些不速之客

The battle against pests, especially insects,

對抗病蟲害的戰爭，尤其是對昆蟲

has marked agriculture's long history.

在農業悠久的歷史佔一席之地

Records from thousands of years ago

數千年前的記載

suggest that humans actively burned some of their crops after harvest

指出人類在收成後積極地燃燒一些作物

to rid them of pests.

來驅趕害蟲

There's even evidence from ancient times that we recruited other insects to help.

甚至有古早時代的證據指出我們曾借助其他昆蟲來幫忙

In 300 A.D., Chinese farmers specially bred ferocious predatory ants

西元300年，中國農夫刻意繁殖兇猛的掠食蟻

in orange orchards to protect the trees from other bugs.

在橘子園裡，保護果樹不被其他蟲攻擊

Later, as large-scale farming spread,

之後，隨著大規模栽種的傳播

we began sprinkling arsenic, lead, and copper treatments on crops.

我們開始灑砷、鉛、銅在作物上

But these were incredibly toxic to humans as well.

但這些物質對人類也十分具有毒性

As our demand for more, safer produce increased,

隨著我們對更多、更安全的農產品要求增加

so did the need for effective chemicals

就更需要有效的化學藥劑

that could control pests on a grander scale.

可以更大規模地控制害蟲

This ushered in the era of chemical pesticides.

這開啟了化學農藥的紀元

In 1948, a Swiss chemist named Paul Hermann Müller

1948年，一位瑞士化學家 保羅·赫爾曼·穆勒

was awarded a Nobel Prize for his discovery

獲得諾貝爾獎，因為他發現

of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, also known as DDT.

雙對氯苯基三氯乙烷，又稱DDT

This new molecule had unparalleled power to control many insect species

這個新的化學物質擁有控制許多種昆蟲的超凡能力

until the 1950s, when insects became resistant to it.

直到1950年代，昆蟲對它產生抵抗力

Worse, the chemical actually drove dramatic declines in bird populations,

更糟的是，此化學物質實際上造成鳥類數量的劇減、

poisoned water sources,

水源毒化、

and was eventually found to cause long-term health problems in humans.

而且最後被發現會造成人類長期的健康問題

By 1972, DDT had been banned in the United States,

到1972年，DDT在美國已被禁用

and yet traces still linger in the environment today.

然而它的痕跡今日仍遺留在環境中

Since then, chemists have been searching for alternatives.

從那時起，科學家一直在尋找替代品

With each new wave of inventions, they've encountered the same obstacle -

每當一個新發明出現，它們都遇到相同的阻礙--

rapid species evolution.

快速的物種演化

As pesticides destroy pest populations,

農藥減少害蟲數量

they leave behind only the most resistant individuals.

只留下最有抵抗力的個體

They then pass on their pesticide-resisting genes

牠們接著便將抗農藥基因傳遞

to the next generation.

到下一個世代

That's lead to the rise of super bugs,

這導致超級害蟲的產生

such as the Colorado potato beetle,

像是科羅拉多馬鈴薯甲蟲

which is resistant to over 50 different insecticides.

牠對超過50種不同的農藥有抵抗力

Another downside is that other bugs get caught in the crossfire.

另一個缺點是其他蟲子在這場戰爭中被波及

Some of these are helpful predators of plant pests or vital pollinators,

其中一些是有益的植物害蟲掠食者或重要的傳粉昆蟲

so erasing them from agriculture wipes out their benefits, too.

所以將牠們從農業根除也除去了牠們的益處

Pesticides have improved over time

農藥已隨時間進步

and are currently regulated by strict safety standards,

目前被嚴格的安全標準所管制

but they still have the potential to pollute soil and water,

但他們仍有潛力汙染土壤和水

impact wildlife,

影響野生動物

and even harm us.

甚至傷害人類

So considering all these risks, why do we continue using pesticides?

考慮到這些風險，我們為什麼要繼續用農藥？

Although they're imperfect,

雖然它們並不完美

they currently may be our best bet against major agricultural disasters,

但目前它們可能是我們對抗大規模農業災害的最佳賭注

not to mention mosquito-born diseases.

更不用說蚊媒疾病

Today, scientists are on a quest for alternative pest control strategies

今日，科學家在尋找替代的害蟲控制方法

that balance the demands of food production

能夠在食物生產的需求

with environmental concerns.

和環境議題間取得平衡

Nature has become a major source of inspiration,

大自然是主要的靈感來源

from natural plant and fungal chemicals that can repel or attract insects,

從自然的植物和真菌能夠驅趕或吸引昆蟲的化學物質

to recruiting other insects as crop bodyguards.

到利用其他昆蟲作為農作保鑣

We're also turning to high-tech solutions, like drones.

我們也尋求高科技的幫助，例如無人機

Programmed to fly over crops,

設計在作物上空飛行

these machines can use their sensors and GPS

這些機器利用它們的感應器和全球衛星定位系統

to carry out more targeted sprays

可以更針對性地噴灑農藥

that limit a pesticide's wider environmental impact.

便能限制農藥對環境的更廣泛影響

With a combination of biological understanding,

結合對生物的了解、

environmental awareness,

環保意識、

and improved technologies,

和進步的科技

we have a better chance of finding a holistic solution to pests.

我們更有機會找出一個宏觀的害蟲解決方法

Chemical pesticides may never shake their controversial reputation,

化學農藥或許永遠無法動搖它們極具爭議性的名聲

but with their help,

但有了它們的幫助

we can ensure that agricultural catastrophes

我們可以確定農業災難

stay firmly in our past.

只存在過去