Following the WHO definition, pesticides include numerous groups of specific products, such as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, garden chemicals, household disinfectants, and rodenticides, which are utilized for both pest destruction and protection [1]. Over one thousand different pesticides are used around the world. They are commonly categorized as synthetic pesticides when they are based on human-made chemicals that do not exist in nature, or biopesticides, which are naturally occurring or derived materials, especially from living organisms such as plants, fungi, and bacteria [2].

Considering their prominence and widespread use, the study of pesticides has been approached by different disciplines, such as chemistry, agronomy, economics, and medicine, in order better to develop new products and assess their effects. The case of Scottish barley cultivation proposed by Stetkiewicz and colleagues is emblematic in this regard because the integrated pest management (a practical and eco-conscious method for controlling pests, which utilizes a blend of different and synergic techniques) they analyze was developed through different disciplinary lenses to achieve a more holistic view of crop care and pesticide use [3]. More recently, pesticides have been at the center of the debate in social sciences, specifically in anthropology, which has explored their stance as cultural objects fully integrated into the web of political, economic, emotional, and heuristic relationships. At the heart of this inquiry lies the profound impact of pesticides on natural ecosystems and human health, raising critical concerns about their widespread use [4]. Scholars have scrutinized the diverse perceptions and narratives constructed around pesticides, alongside the hopes and intentions guiding their application [5]. In so doing, the geographic and social imprints of agricultural methods were uncovered, revealing how they intertwine with local forms of social organization and collective histories rooted in specific landscapes, as Abate and colleagues present by referring, for example, to the African context [6]. The emerging gendered dimensions of pesticide usage shed light on the nuanced social dynamics at play, specifically on the complex power dynamics and structural violence inherent in their deployment, and the myriad strategies employed by communities to mitigate the adverse effects of pesticides [7].

Following and unfolding this debate, this article aims to present the main results of the discussion, providing a comprehensive outline of the cultural reality of pesticides in contemporary society. In so doing, the article opens by presenting the methodology and sources used for the literature review, moving to present the key areas where the debate has its focus. These will be discussed with the support of the exploration of an ethnographic case study.