5-Point programme for sustainable plant protection

Tobias Frische,Steffen Matezki,Sina Egerer,Christina Pickl,Jörn Wogram

doi:10.1186/s12302-018-0136-2

Abstract

This position paper intends to stimulate a profound rethinking of contemporary agricultural practice. We criticise the current intensity of chemical plant protection in Germany as ecologically unsustainable and thus threatening the achievement of key targets of environmental protection and nature conservation policies. In the first part of the paper, we provide background information on the use of plant protection products (PPP) in German agriculture, the role of agricultural policy, European pesticide legislation, the principles of and framework for environmental risk assessment and risk management of PPP, as well as environmental effects of PPP. The second part is presented against the backdrop of the European “Sustainable Use Directive” (2009/128/EC). This directive requires that “Member States shall adopt National Action Plans to set up their quantitative objectives, targets, measures, and timetables to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment and to encourage the development and introduction of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques to reduce dependency on the use of pesticides.” Reflecting on the corresponding debate in Germany, we suggest the following five key principles for a sustainable use of PPP and provide recommendations for their implementation: (1) minimising use; (2) identifying, quantifying, and communicating risks; (3) optimising risk management; (4) compensating for unavoidable effects; (5) internalising external costs.

Highlights

System dependence on chemical plant protection Chemical plant protection in conventional crop production “Farming, forestry and agricultural business are among (...) the key sectors of the German economy...” [1]. This is true despite the fact that agriculture comprises only 0.9% to Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP) [2], since it is the crops cultivated by farms that provide basis for our existence
To ensure that the environmental impacts are acceptable the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), which is the competent national body responsible for the approval procedure, draws on the risk assessment provided by German Environment Agency (UBA) to formulate legally binding conditions of use and risk mitigation measures that are displayed on the plant protection products (PPP) packaging and with which farmers have to comply
The NAP Forum (December 2014) concluded: “The NAP Forum is of the opinion that the primary use of ‘ecological focus areas’ to create buffer strips, field margins and forest peripheries where the application of PPPs is banned under the Greening rules can provide an important contribution for the protection of surface waters and the preservation of biodiversity by increasing the proportion of habitats and sanctuaries in the agricultural

Summary

Introduction

System dependence on chemical plant protection Chemical plant protection in conventional crop production “Farming, forestry and agricultural business are among (...) the key sectors of the German economy...” [1].

Results

Conclusion