Bridging sustainability and effectiveness: assessing pesticide policies and regulation in Sri Lanka

In the present era, policies often confront the challenge of addressing complex and pervasive issues such as climate change, food system transformations, and pesticide pollution. To tackle these “wicked” problems effectively, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between sustainability and policy effectiveness is essential. This study investigates pesticide-related policies in Sri Lanka across agriculture, environment, and health domains, aiming to comprehend the dynamics between efficiency and sustainability. The study focuses on three key aspects: (1) the alignment of policy goals with sustainable transformation, (2) how policy instruments address sustainability goals, and (3) the quality of policy instruments. Our findings reveal a prioritization hierarchy within the pillars of sustainability; social aspects are highly emphasized, while environmental concerns receive moderate attention, leaving economic factors largely unaddressed. Moreover, the effectiveness indicator indicates suboptimal performance of the existing policy instruments. Additionally, a critical evaluation reveals an imbalance in the selection of these tools characterized by an overreliance on command-and-control measures at the expense of market-based instruments. Lastly, the study discusses potential reasons behind the gaps in sustainability and effectiveness and provides recommendations to bridge these gaps and enhance the efficiency and inclusivity of future policies.