By Staff Writer Claudia
What new research on pesticide use in Costa Rica reminds us about the value of growing food in harmony with nature.
Costa Rica is celebrated around the world for its extraordinary biodiversity, lush forests, and commitment to conservation. Yet a recently published scientific study reveals an interesting contradiction: the country that has become a global symbol of environmental protection also relies heavily on agricultural pesticides.
For those of us living at Ecovilla San Mateo (ESM), this research offers an opportunity to reflect on something much closer to home: the importance of our food forests and the agricultural practices we are working to cultivate within our village.
A Surprising Discovery About Costa Rican Agriculture
A 2026 study published in the scientific journal Environment International examined pesticide use across Costa Rica. Researchers estimated that cultivated cropland receives an average of 21.91 kilograms of pesticide active ingredients per hectare annually, approximately ten times the reported global average.
The highest estimated applications were associated with large-scale agricultural production, particularly bananas and pineapples, two of Costa Rica’s most recognizable exports. The researchers also raised concerns about the potential environmental hazards associated with these chemicals, including their effects on aquatic ecosystems.
Importantly, the study examined national agricultural practices and chemical hazards. It did not measure pesticide exposure or health effects within our village. Still, its findings invite a broader conversation about how food is grown and what alternatives might look like.
What If We Grew Food More Like a Forest?
Traditional industrial agriculture often relies on large fields planted with a single crop. These monocultures can be productive, but they can also create conditions in which pests and diseases spread easily, increasing the need for chemical interventions.
A food forest takes a different approach. Rather than organizing the landscape around a single crop, food forests draw inspiration from natural ecosystems. Fruit trees, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, ground covers, and other useful plants grow together in layers, creating a living, interconnected environment.
Imagine walking through a garden where banana plants provide shade, fruit trees rise overhead, herbs grow below, and fallen leaves gradually return nutrients to the soil. Birds, butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects become part of the landscape.
This diversity is more than beautiful. It can help build healthier soil, retain moisture, support natural pest control, and create habitats for wildlife. Food forests are not automatically free of pests or agricultural challenges. They require observation, maintenance, and thoughtful management. But their design offers opportunities to reduce dependence on synthetic pesticides by working with ecological processes rather than relying primarily on chemical controls.
The Importance of What We’re Building at ESM
One of the most meaningful aspects of Ecovilla San Mateo is that our vision extends beyond individual homes. Our shared green spaces, food forests, and gardens offer opportunities to think about the land as something we care for collectively.
As our village grows, these spaces can become living examples of how residential communities contribute to a healthier environment. Every tree planted, every patch of soil protected, and every effort to encourage biodiversity contributes to that larger vision.
Our food forests offer several important benefits:
Healthier ecosystems: Diverse plantings provide habitat for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects.
Soil conservation: Tree roots, ground covers, and organic matter help protect soil from erosion, particularly during Costa Rica’s intense rainy season.
Water stewardship: Healthy soil and vegetation can improve water infiltration and reduce runoff, helping protect our local watershed.
Local food production: Growing food within the village offers opportunities to enjoy seasonal produce close to home.
Community education: Children and adults can learn where food comes from and experience firsthand how plants, insects, soil, and water interact.
Perhaps most importantly, these spaces encourage us to see food production as part of a healthy ecosystem rather than something separate from it.
A Living Classroom for the Next Generation
One of the greatest gifts we can offer our children is the opportunity to understand how nature works. Imagine children helping plant a fruit tree, watching it grow, observing the insects that visit its flowers, and eventually harvesting its fruit.
Along the way, they learn about patience, seasonal changes, soil health, and the relationships that sustain life. These experiences can help foster an appreciation for environmental stewardship that extends far beyond the village.
Our food forests are not simply places where food grows. They can also become outdoor classrooms, gathering places, and sources of shared knowledge.
Small Choices, Meaningful Impact
Costa Rica’s agricultural challenges are complex. Farmers face real pressures from pests, diseases, weather, production costs, and consumer demand. Moving toward more sustainable practices requires research, investment, education, and practical solutions.
Our village cannot solve these national challenges on its own. But we can demonstrate another approach on a community scale. We can support thoughtful planting, encourage natural methods of pest management, compost organic materials, protect our waterways, and share what we learn.
We can also recognize that caring for a food forest involves ongoing responsibility. These spaces need maintenance, planning, and participation to thrive. The success of our food forests will depend not only on what we plant today, but also on how we care for them in the years ahead.
Growing More Than Food
Perhaps the most encouraging message from this research is that we have opportunities to make different choices.
At Ecovilla San Mateo, our food forests represent one of those choices. They offer a chance to produce food, strengthen biodiversity, nurture healthier soil, and build connections among neighbors.
And as our village continues to grow, they remind us that sustainability is not simply an idea expressed in our community vision. It is something we practice, together, in the landscape around us.
We are growing more than food. We are cultivating the kind of village we want to leave for future generations.
Further Reading
Castro-Vargas, S., Alvarez-Fernandez, S., & Galt, R. E. (2026). Grounding pesticide use intensity and hazards with real-world data: Toward correcting global models in tropical agriculture. Environment International, Volume 215, Article 110468.