The European Commission (EC) announced this week a proposal to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030. The Executive Body of the European Union has said that it does not intend to ban the use of pesticides entirely, but only to advance its "Farm to Fork" strategy, which aims to make food systems healthier and more environmentally friendly.

"By 2030, half of chemical pesticides should be replaced by alternatives, with practices such as crop rotation and technologies such as precision agriculture," said Mas Frans Timmermans, commissioner responsible for the bloc's landmark Green Deal.

According to Timmermans' statement to reporters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 23, there would be a complete ban on the use of chemical pesticides only in the vicinity of "some sensitive ones, such as schools, hospitals, parks and playgrounds."

According to him, EU member states would have to submit regular reports on their progress as part of the new agrochemical reduction scheme. To cover the cost of the transition to organic insum, the EC guarantees that several European investment funds will be available to countries over the next five years.

The proposal, however, is not unanimous, and many European governments are already opposed to the new proposals. "The timing is completely inappropriate to make this proposal because we are at a time when food is needed in Europe. We are again in a debate on food security in Europe and proposing these two regulations is now simply inappropriate," said Italian MEP Herbert Dorfmann.

Copa Cogeca, Europe's largest farmers' union, said in a statement that it is in favor of reducing the use of chemical pesticides, but not at any cost. "The European agricultural community supports the overall objective of reducing plant protection products. Focusing on stricter rules will not solve the problems underlying plant protection: banning different products without having sufficient effective alternatives is not an efficient approach," they argue.

The plans also include a mandatory target of recovering 20% of damaged ecosystems by 2030, with the idea of returning nature to all areas, including forests, agricultural land and urban areas. One of the main objectives is to reverse the decline of pollinators. The plans will need the approval of the European Parliament and the European Council before they become law.

Source: Agrolink