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In a public opinion study released at the end of March by the non-profit Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI), pesticides, climate change and genetically modified food ranked as the most discussed agricultural topics on social media between January 2017 and January 2019.

Perhaps not surprisingly, climate change and genetically modified foods led the way, with more than two million Canadians mentioning them during those periods.

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But while pesticides trailed at 1.08 million mentions, it’s what people were saying about them that stood out.

These chemicals helped my grandparents grow better crops, in a more efficient manner

According the study, 59 per cent of conversations related to pesticides connected the chemicals to farmers. Only one per cent made the connection to chemical companies.

“Farmers are associated with these technologies,” read the report, whose findings were noted in the Western Producer on the day of their release. “Farmers are the front line and wear the issue when it comes to public opinion.”