Marine Tondelier, national secretary of Europe Ecologie-Les Verts, says that the use of phytosanitary products jumped 20% between 2009 and 2018. The figure is correct but misleading.
According to Marine Tondelier, France is using more and more pesticides despite its commitments: “France has committed between 2009 and 2018 to reduce its use of pesticides by 50%. Do you know the result of this wonderful initiative? It has increased by 20%”said on Sud Radio the national secretary of Europe Ecologie-Les Verts, Wednesday 17 May. The figures put forward by Marine Tondelier are correct, but they are also misleading.
An increase in sales, according to data from the ministry
What is true is that in 2008 France launched a plan against phytosanitary products and undertook to reduce their use by 50% in a decade. Sexcept that in 2018, that is to say ten years later, the sale of pesticides actually increased by almost 20%, from just over 50,000 tonnes per year to over 62,000 tonnes, according to the figures from the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
So there has been an increase, but that’s where it’s misleading, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we used more pesticides. Because the year 2018 is special, according to the ministry, since it is the last year before a significant increase in taxation on phytosanitary products, specifically the fee for diffuse pollution. PFor example for glyphosate, this tax has increased by one euro per kilo. This increase prompted many farmers to stockpile ahead of 2019, leading to a very strong sales increase in 2018, according to the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Moreover, we observe that the following year, in 2019, it is the year when there was the least purchase of phytosanitary products in France. In reality, the farmers used the products they had stored the previous year.
Pesticide use down in recent years
Finally, has France reduced its use of pesticides? Yes, there has been a drop in recent years, but if we look back to 2008, the use of pesticides per hectare remains fairly stable. VSWhat is certain is that France has not at all achieved its objective of halving its use of phytosanitary products.
However, sales continue to decline. PFor example, in 2020 and 2021, just over 42,000 tonnes of pesticides were purchased, this is less than in the years 2010 to 2017 when we were around 50,000 tonnes. The nature of the products purchased has also changed, pFor example, the most risky substances are sold much less.