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“Pause” of the Ecophyto plan: strong indignation from environmentalists and scientists
“Pause” of the Ecophyto plan: strong indignation from environmentalists and scientists – (franceinfo)
Faced with the discontent of farmers, the government announced on Thursday February 1 that it was suspending its Ecophyto plan, designed to reduce the use of pesticides. A decision against which environmentalists and scientists are protesting.
The government announced Thursday, February 1, the suspension of its flagship plan to reduce the use of pesticides. Demanded by several agricultural unions, the pause of the Ecophyto plan triggered an outcry among environmentalists. “For 15 years we have been promised a reduction in the use of pesticides and it has not happened, 15 years late for the health of the French”deplores Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the Ecologists, who also regrets that the question of farmers’ income has not moved forward.
A plan never respected since 2008
The first version of Ecophyto was adopted in 2008, with the aim of reducing the use of pesticides by 50% in 10 years. It will be a failure, just like the second version of the plan, launched in 2015 with the same objectives. The Ecophyto 3 plan was to be announced at the end of January, with the ambition to reduce pesticides by 50% by 2030. This suspension also worries scientists. “In agro-industrial landscapes, we have a two-thirds drop in populations of insects, bees, wild bees, butterflies, flies, dragonflies, and therefore pollinator species”, recalls Philippe Grandcolas, research director at CNRS. Emmanuel Macron should propose a new version of the plan within three weeks.
