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Anger of farmers: the reduction of pesticides is controversial
Anger of farmers: the reduction of pesticides is controversial – (France 2)
A pause in the Ecophyto plan, responsible for reducing the use of pesticides in France, was decided on Thursday February 1. Environmentalists denounce a setback.
The government announced on Thursday February 1 that it wanted to take a break from the pesticide reduction plan. This decision is denounced by environmental associations, but was desired by certain agricultural unions. A farmer is satisfied. “They are taking away so many products from us that we will no longer be able to work”says Audrey Chantepie, farmer, FDSEA union of Val-d’Oise.
Plant protection products have declined little in fifteen years
Reducing the use of phytosanitary products in agriculture is constantly being pushed back. In 2008, a first Ecophyto plan was adopted with the objective of reducing pesticides by 50% in ten years. It’s a fail. Ecophyto 2, decided in 2015, is another failure. The Ecophyto 3 plan was to be announced at the end of January 2024 with a 50% reduction in pesticides by 2030. The quantity of products used has decreased little in fifteen years. Environmental associations denounce a major setback. “In agro-industrial landscapes, we have a 2/3 drop in insect populations”recalls Philippe Grandcolas, research director at CNRS.
