Pesticides have been used for thousands of years to control insects and pests. However, modern industrialized agriculture has led to a massive increase in pesticide usage, with over 2.5 million tons used annually and nearly all causing environmental contamination. Many natural alternatives exist that are safer and more sustainable like using plants like basil, lavender and chives which repel insects, predatory insects which eat pests, and cultivation methods like crop rotation. Transitioning to organic and biodynamic farming can help reduce pesticide usage and reliance while closing nutrient cycles.