The scientific uncertainty of the harm and benefits of pesticides in organic and non-organic food

In this thesis it is argued that the relative safety of organic food versus non-organic food is complex and subjective. Expert and lay people are interviewed using scenarios to assess their differences in understanding of situations involving scientific uncertainty, namely the evaluation of pesticide safety and the control and regulation of the pesticide’s use. Ecofeminism is used to analyze the results as it is a theoretic that links the destruction of the environment with social hierarchies. A novel schematic for expanding scientific uncertainty beyond the scientific method is presented as a way for both a more nunaced understanding of scientific uncertainty and for greater civic participation in scientific decision-making.