Intensity Of Pesticide Use Research Articles

Internet-Based Information Acquisition, Technical Knowledge and Farmers’ Pesticide Use: Evidence from Rice Production in China

The overuse of pesticides has led to serious ecological and environmental degradation, largely due to the lack of effectiveness of agricultural-extension services. In recent years, an increasing number of farmers have tended to acquire technical information from the Internet. In this context, the present study analyzes the impact of Internet-based information acquisition on pesticide use and the mediating role of farmers’ technical knowledge. For this purpose, the treatment-effects model and survey data covering 1113 rice farmers in Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces in China were utilized. The results indicate that Internet-based information acquisition could significantly reduce the intensity of pesticide use by 2.036 kg/ha, accounting for the self-selection issue. Further analysis illustrates that farmers’ technical knowledge plays a significant mediating role in the negative impact of Internet-based information acquisition on pesticide-use intensity. In addition, the impacts of Internet-based information acquisition on pesticide-use intensity are heterogeneous across different education levels or rice-sown areas. Thus, the present study suggests that efforts should be made to accelerate the construction of rural information infrastructure networks to broaden smallholder farmers’ access to technical information from the Internet platforms, promote “Internet plus” agricultural-extension services, and improve farmers’ skills in using the Internet.

Fifty years of monitoring changes in the abundance of invertebrates in the cereal ecosystem of the Sussex Downs, England

Abstract Changes in insect abundance are receiving much attention, with agricultural intensification considered to be one of the main drivers of decline. We report on changes in invertebrates collected in cereal fields in Sussex, Southern England, UK, from 1970 to 2019. Samples were taken using D‐vac suction sampling in the third week of June from an average of 95 cereal fields per year (4757 samples in total, comprising 2,983,124 individual invertebrates identified mainly to family level). The study area comprises 12 farms, whose land use, crop rotations and intensity of pesticide use were also recorded, showing marked changes over time. Overall invertebrate abundance declined by 37% across all taxa, and by 48% when excluding the most numerous taxa (Collembola, Aphididae and Thysanoptera). Declines in abundance were identified for 47% of 51 non‐overlapping taxa at the order or family level, increases for 16% and no change for 37%. Most declines occurred in the first decade of the study, most increases in the 1990s. Latterly there have been further declines from 2010. As functional groups, mycetophages, phytophages, predators (both aphid‐specific and polyphagous), parasitoids and cophrophages declined significantly, while there was no detectable change in pollinators. Four of five measures of avian chick‐food invertebrate abundance declined significantly, while one (corn bunting chick‐food index) showed no detectable change. A multivariate constrained redundancy analysis revealed that cropping, field size, pesticide use and weather all significantly explained the variation in the abundance of the 51 non‐overlapping taxa. For functional groups, significant explanatory variables were weather and pesticide use. Changes in farming practices and adoption of measures such as integrated pest management, regenerative farming, agri‐environmental scheme options and intercropping could help to mitigate the factors associated with decline.

Agrobiotechnological protection of grapes from diseases using microbiological preparations

The article highlights the aspects of the use of microbiological preparations for the protection of vineyards from the most common disease - mildew. The results of the use of microbiological preparation "Mikosan B" for protection against mildew on private vineyards in the Transcarpathian region are shown. According to the intensity of pesticide use, grapes take one of the first places. During the growing season, 10-15 sprayings are carried out on the vineyards. With this existing technology of vineyard cultivation, there is a negative impact on both grape production and the overall production. In the world, there is a trend of gradually reducing the use of toxic pesticides and replacing them with environmentally friendly drugs. In European countries with the concept of ecologically sustainable agriculture, the gradual removal from the market of more than 60% of highly toxic pesticides is foreseen. Recently, there has been an increased interest in microbiological preparations, which activates an intensive search, study of biological properties and selection of promising microorganisms for biologization and greening of plant protection. Thus, the replacement of chemical meliorants, pesticides, agrochemicals with biological preparations created on the basis of microorganisms and their metabolites began to be implemented in the practice of plant protection.

Can socialized pest control service reduce the intensity of pesticide use? Evidence from rice farmers in China.

Although a great deal of research has examined the impact of socialized pest control service, few studies have discussed the relationship between socialized pest control service and pesticide use intensity. In particular, the literature ignores the impact of advanced application technologies (drone sprayers) on the intensity of pesticide use by farmers. Based on a survey of 1185 rice growers in Hubei Province, China, this study found that 64.13% of the sample farmers used pesticides more than three times in one rice season. Importantly, socialized pest control services have a significant negative effect on the pesticide use intensity of farmers. Compared to the sample that did not purchase the service, farmers who purchased socialized pest control services demonstrated 9.30% less pesticide intensity. Further, there was a significant difference among farmers using different application devices on pesticide use intensity. Compared to the sample using ground backpack sprayers, farmers using drone sprayers used 12.40% less pesticide intensity. This study found that the frequency of pesticide use by farmers during rice cultivation was generally high. Socialized pest control services have played a positive role in reducing the intensity of pesticide use, especially with the more obvious pesticide reduction effect of the adoption of drone sprayers. Therefore, improving socialized pest control services and promoting advanced equipment such as drone sprayers may be an important way to reduce the use of pesticides in China. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Economic impacts and management of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in smallholder agriculture: a panel data analysis for Ghana

BackgroundFall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; FAW), a native pest of the Americas, invaded West Africa about 7 years ago and spread rapidly across the rest of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and several countries in Asia and Oceania. Early cross-sectional studies reported that the pest causes severe damage to maize, stimulating widespread use of synthetic pesticides in smallholder farming systems. Using panel data from Ghana, this paper assessed the impact of FAW on maize productivity and the changes in the strategies adopted by smallholder farmers for the management of the pest.MethodsHousehold data collected in two rounds (2018 and 2020) from 370 smallholder maize-growing households in Ghana were used. The dynamics of FAW infestation and the management practices applied by farmers were analysed descriptively, while panel data regression methods, such as fixed effects and correlated random effects models, were used to estimate the effect of FAW on maize productivity.ResultsWe found evidence of reduced intensity of pesticide use, increased use of protective equipment when spraying pesticides, increased adoption of biopesticides and cultural practices for FAW management, in line with recommended integrated pest management solutions. Results from panel data regression analysis showed that after controlling for other determinants of maize productivity and unobserved heterogeneity, the negative effect of FAW infestation on maize productivity is not statistically significant.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that with better knowledge of FAW and the use of more sustainable and environmentally-friendly solutions, the yield losses due to FAW are not as severe as initially reported.

Reducing pesticide use in vineyards. Evidence from the analysis of the French DEPHY network

High quantities of pesticides are applied on vineyards. For example, the average treatment frequency index (TFI) for French vineyards was 13.5 in 2016, whereas the average TFI for wheat (a major annual crop in France) was 4.9 in 2017. Reducing pesticide use is a key issue to improve viticulture sustainability. The aims of this study were (i) to analyse the evolution of pesticide use in vineyard farms voluntarily participating in a pesticide reduction programme, and (ii) to understand the options winegrowers used to reduce their pesticide use. We analysed data from the DEPHY farm network, including 244 cropping systems followed over 10 years and spread across 12 winegrowing regions. We used the TFI to assess the intensity of pesticide use. Mean pesticide use within the network decreased over the 10-year period and mostly concerned fungicide use. By analysing several indicators such as the number of treatments and the mean TFI per fungicide treatment, we were able to identify some of the management options mobilised for achieving this pesticide reduction. The use of biocontrol products and the reduction of sprayed doses were often associated with a low TFI. The analysis of yield evolution showed a significant mean reduction, although it was smaller than the TFI reduction. This raised the question of the impact of pesticide reduction on productivity. Further trade-off analyses are required in the future.

Does crop insurance reduce pesticide usage? Evidence from China

We test how crop insurance participation affects the intensity of pesticide use in China using data on staple crop production from eight provinces. Our preferred specification instruments farmers' decisions of participation in insurance by village-level intensities of promotional activities and controls for province fixed effects. We find crop insurance participation significantly reduces pesticide use intensity. The reduction effect is greater for smaller plots, older farmers, and farmers who are more risk averse.

Cropland heterogeneity drives frequency and intensity of pesticide use

Agricultural landscapes across the planet have replaced natural habitat with crop production that is less diverse at field and landscape scales. Loss of cropland heterogeneity can increase pest colonization rates and decrease predation rates, thereby exacerbating pest pressure and leading to increased use of pesticides. Linking landscape pattern, crop pest pressure, and pesticide use is emerging as critical step for understanding the benefits, and potential trade-offs, of diversified agriculture. We advance this work by exploring how cropland heterogeneity drives pesticide use, and whether this effect is modified by pesticide class (i.e. fungicide, herbicide or insecticide). We focus on a diverse growing region, California’s Central Valley, and use spatial auto-regressive models to test for consistent class-based differences in the relationship between pesticide use and cropland heterogeneity (i.e. mean field size and landscape-level crop diversity). We find reduced pesticide use, in terms of both frequency and intensity of application, in diversified, spatially-heterogenous landscapes. Additionally, we see (a) more consistent responses of fungicides and insecticides to landscape pattern, (b) pesticide use increases as cropland becomes more homogenous with respect to crop identity, and (c) this effect is more consistent for perennial crops than annual crops. The modifying influence of pesticide class is largely consistent with expectations from ecological theory. Our results support increasing focus on whether enhancing the heterogeneity of the crop mosaic itself can benefit biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being.

Strawberry Flavor Is Influenced by the Air Temperature Differential during Fruit Development but Not Management Practices

The majority of cultivated strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) in the northern United States (US) and Canadian provinces is grown in perennial matted rows across a range of soil types and microclimates. Management practices vary in fertilization rates, intensity of pesticide use, and the source of inputs depending on grower preferences. The objective of this study was to identify environmental and management factors that influence strawberry flavor attributes across a range of production systems. The cultivar Jewel was selected for its popularity in this region and reputation for excellent flavor. “Jewel” was sampled from regional farms and, concurrently, grown in a controlled field study with different inputs over three years. Soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) across farms was found to be positively associated with the air temperature differential during fruit ripening. In controlled field studies, yield was correlated positively with total N in the form of synthetic urea, but not with the rate of applied organic nitrogen (N). Despite different levels of soil carbon inputs, N rates, pesticides, and microbial supplements, the fruit quality attributes, including SSC, TA, aromatic volatile concentration, and phenolics were not associated with treatment. A human sensory evaluation found no perceptible differences in flavor or aroma among contrasting treatments. Our study concludes that growers should invest in temperature management, rather than agricultural inputs, to influence SSC and TA of strawberry.

Can plant clinics enhance judicious use of pesticides? Evidence from Rwanda and Zambia

Recent outbreaks of crop pests such as fall armyworm and desert locusts are threatening food security and have spurred increased use of pesticides in sub-Saharan Africa. While pesticides can prevent crop losses, they can also have adverse effects on human health and the environment, if not used judiciously. In this article, we examine whether plant clinics―an innovative extension approach of providing plant health diagnostic and advisory services to smallholder farmers―can enhance judicious use of pesticides, measured by intensity of pesticide use, adoption of alternative and more environmentally friendly pest management practices, safe pesticide use practices, and incidence of pesticide-related illness. We use data from a sample of 1474 farm households in Rwanda and Zambia. Propensity score matching estimates suggest that although plant clinic participants exhibit a higher probability of opting for pesticides for pest control, they do not use pesticides intensively and are more likely to adopt alternatives to chemical pest control. On the other hand, plant clinic users and non-users are equally likely to use restricted pesticides and inappropriate methods of disposing of pesticide wastes, which can lead to pesticide poisoning. Overall, our results imply that the plant clinic extension approach can promote sustainable pest management in smallholder agriculture, but additional training of plant clinic staff and clients on pesticide safety would be necessary.

Impact of farm size on intensity of pesticide use: Evidence from China

The average amount of pesticides used per hectare in China is roughly five times of the world average. Understanding the drivers of pesticide use will help reduce excessive pesticide use in China. Using farm-level cross-sectional data, county-level and province-level panel data, this study investigates the impact of farm size on the intensity of pesticide use. The results indicate that farm size has a significant negative impact on the intensity of pesticide use. On average, a 1% increase in farm size is associated with a 0.2% decrease in pesticide use per hectare. The study suggests that promoting the development of relatively large-scale farms can reduce the intensity of pesticide use in China.

Assessment of farmers’ knowledge and awareness regarding pest control technologies in the apple growing belts of Kashmir valley

A study on ‘‘assessment of farmers’ knowledge and awareness regarding pest control technologies in the apple growing belts of Kashmir valley” was carried out in the three zones of the Kashmir valley during 2017-18. Apple being main horticultural crop has predominant position in area, production and productivity. Both primary and secondary data was analyzed to interpret the results for this study. The data was collected extensively from six blocks of the Kashmir Valley, two each from North, South and the Central zone by using multi-stage stratified sampling technique and the secondary data was also collected from various published/unpublished records. The study has pointed out to the need for a detailed look on the pesticide-use pattern, distribution systems, regulatory mechanism and farmers perception about pesticide use at a micro level. The results of the study revealed that expenditure incurred on pesticides is quite high in apple. Besides that, not only the intensity of pesticide use but also the high risk pesticides are being used in crop production in the study area. The study indicated that the farmers apply pesticides indiscriminately in violation of the scientific recommendations. About one-third of the pesticides available in the market are reported to be either sub-standard or spurious. The existence of unlicensed dealers/ traders has further accentuated the magnitude of malpractices in the pesticide delivery system. The results of the study further indicated that farmers had limited knowledge of pest management as well as the consequences of pesticide use. Almost all the apple-growing farmers (95 %) were of the opinion that there was heavy severity of disease in the study area. The expenditure on fertilizers and manures, average price of pesticide and pest intensity has significantly influenced the pesticide use in apple. High pesticide use was observed and most of the pesticides belong to high and moderate risk chemicals. The determinants of apple yield revealed that the estimated co-efficients for fertilizer expenditure, area under the crop and expenditure on pesticides were found to be positive and significant. Farmers are willing to pay average price premium upto 15 per cent for environmentally safer formulations of pesticides. This confirms that a market exists for safer or environment friendly pesticides in the study area. Increasing farmers’ awareness of pesticide hazards, proper regulation of pesticides and promotion of spray schedule adoption is essential for reducing adverse economic and environmental implications. The study has put forth a few policy suggestions for encouraging scientific application of pesticides and reducing the negative externalities arising from pesticide-use.

Riwayat paparan pestisida dan kekurangan asupan zat gizi sebagai faktor risiko kejadian anemia pada ibu hamil di daerah pertanian

Background: Anemia in pregnant women in Brebes Regency, Central Java in 2016 was still high at 60.7%. Brebes Regency is an area of onion farming with a high intensity of pesticide use. Objectives: This study aimed to prove the history of pesticide exposure and lack of nutrient intake (iron and vitamin C) was risk factor for the incidence of anemia in pregnant women in agricultural area. Methods: Case control study with 41 cases (anemia) and 41 controls (non-anemia) as study subjects. The subjects were selected using purposive sampling method. Pesticide exposure history included the involvement of pregnant women in agricultural activities, frequency of exposure and length of exposure was measured by interview using structured questionnaire. Anemia data were obtained by measuring hemoglobin levels. Other independent variables measured were nutritional intake (protein, iron, and vitamin C) using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) method to determine the level of nutrient adequacy in pregnant women. Data were analyzed using chi-square test and logistic regression.Result: Hemoglobin levels in the case ranged from 7.2 g/dl to 10.9 g/dl. The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that pesticide exposure history (OR= 4.9, 95% CI:1.75-13.67), level of iron adequacy (OR = 2.9, 95% CI:1.06– 8.29) and level of vitamin C adequacy (OR = 3.4, 95% CI:1.10– 10.28) as risk factors for the incidence of anemia in pregnant women in agricultural area.Conclusion: The history of pesticide exposure and lack of nutrient intake (iron and vitamin C) was risk factor for the incidence of anemia in pregnant women in agricultural area.

RIWAYAT PAPARAN PESTISIDA SEBAGAI FAKTOR RISIKO STUNTING PADA ANAK USIA 2-5 TAHUN DI DAERAH PERTANIAN

T he prevalence of stunting in the Wanayasa Subd istrict area reache d 23.7 percent and the stunting incidence was widely found in children aged 2-5 years. H istory of pesticide exposure is one of the factors that influence the incidence of stunting. Wanayasa Subdistrict is an area of potato and vegetable farming with high intensity of pesticide use in processing the land. The purpose of study was to analyze the history of pesticide exposure as a risk factor for stunting in children aged 2-5 years in Wanayasa Subd istrict , Banjarnegara District. The research design used was case control with a total sample of 47 cases (stunting) and 47 controls (not stunting). Subject selection by purposive sampling with matching age and gender. Data obtained through measurement of height, weight and structured interviews. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, calculating Odds Ratio (OR) and logistic regression method . The results showed that t he lowest value of HAZ in the case group were -5.4 SD and the highest was -2.55 SD, the lowest age of children 24-month in case group and 27-month in the control group. Most of mother ’ s work in case group (51.1%) and in control group (57.4%) were farmers. I n multivariate analysis showed that , the history of pesticide exposure in children (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.77-10.04) as stunting risk factor, and history of pesticide exposure during pregnancy was not significantly related to stunting. The conclusion of this study that the history of pesticide exposure is the most dominant risk factor for the incidence of stunting in children aged 2-5 years.

Validity of reported indicators of pesticide exposure and relevance for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on buccal cells.

Higher rates of nuclear anomalies in buccal cells of coffee workers exposed to pesticides in comparison to their unexposed peers were detected in our field study. Here, we extend our findings by examining other exposure indicators in this sample. Occupational exposure of 38 exposed and 33 non-exposed farmworkers was assessed as exposure days in the last month (0-25 days) and as years of exposure (0-47 years). Genotoxic and cytotoxic markers in buccal cells were analysed following standard procedures for buccal micronucleus cytome assay. Both exposure markers were associated with a higher frequency of nuclear anomalies with odds ratios more than 1. After restricting the analysis to the exposed workers only, this association remained only with the marker of recent exposure. In a secondary analysis also environmental exposure defined as proximity of the home to the nearest sprayed field (distance <1000 m) was assessed. Proximity led to increased rates (with odds ratios more than 3) of genotoxic but not cytotoxic nuclear anomalies. Reported recent frequency and intensity of pesticide use and application are a valid exposure marker relevant for cytological pathologies in the buccal mucosa. The exposure metric for environmental exposure was rather crude and confounding by some unmeasured factor cannot be fully excluded. Nevertheless, simple exposure indicators that can even be obtained under rather difficult field conditions do provide health-relevant and valid information.

Agricultural Activity concept for simulating strategic agricultural production decisions: Case study of weed resistance to herbicide treatments in South-West France

In an uncertain socio-economic and climatic context, sustainable farming is a major challenge for farmers as well as for their agricultural advisors. It is therefore essential to develop a decision support tool (DST) that is likely to be useful to establish and evaluate new production strategies, in accordance with farm sustainability and environmental protection. This paper aims, by using the Agricultural Activity concept, to put forward and test a DST based on mathematical programming used to evaluate strategic production decisions, in conjunction with farmers and agricultural advisors. In the test case, the decisions concern the crop activities and their spatio-temporal combinations in order to reduce both the use of herbicides and the risk of weed resistance to herbicides in cereal-based production systems. Moreover, the DST considers the availability of the workforce during the crop cycle to determine the periods which are likely to require the most significant increase in comparison to the current situation. One scenario showing the current situation (Sc_baseline) and two alternative scenarios have been defined to address the weed-herbicide issue. The comparison of the scenario promoting soil tillage and the introduction of spring crops with Sc_Baseline has shown that the adoption of long-term rotations, the increase in winter crop frequency and the return to deep soil tillage have contributed to an increase in farmer income, total labor and water consumption by 7, 21 and 22% respectively. However, the intensity of pesticide use and nitrate fertilization have dropped by 15% and 17% respectively. By allowing the farmer to establish specific contracts for certain crops, the average income as well as the use of pesticide and nitrate fertilization were increased by at least 10%. This situation is the result of a simplification of rotations with a predominance of winter cereals and the elimination of deep soil tillage.The analysis of these scenarios shows that the use of the DST has made it possible not only to put forward and evaluate alternatives that result in strategic decisions but also to understand, with the concept of Agricultural Activity, the biophysical and technical processes relating to farmer decisions and their impacts at field and farm level. Understanding and sharing this functional chain at farm level is expected to strengthen the farmer-advisor relationship in order to address the complex challenges of farming system sustainability.

Investigating the (Mis)Match between Natural Pest Control Knowledge and the Intensity of Pesticide Use.

Transforming modern agriculture towards both higher yields and greater sustainability is critical for preserving biodiversity in an increasingly populous and variable world. However, the intensity of agricultural practices varies strongly between crop systems. Given limited research capacity, it is crucial to focus efforts to increase sustainability in the crop systems that need it most. In this study, we investigate the match (or mismatch) between the intensity of pesticide use and the availability of knowledge on the ecosystem service of natural pest control across various crop systems. Using a systematic literature search on pest control and publicly available pesticide data, we find that pest control literature is not more abundant in crops where insecticide input per hectare is highest. Instead, pest control literature is most abundant, with the highest number of studies published, in crops with comparatively low insecticide input per hectare but with high world harvested area. These results suggest that a major increase of interest in agroecological research towards crops with high insecticide input, particularly cotton and horticultural crops such as citrus and high value-added vegetables, would help meet knowledge needs for a timely ecointensification of agriculture.

Deployment of organic farming at a landscape scale maintains low pest infestation and high crop productivity levels in vineyards

Abstract Organic farming is a promising way to reduce pesticide use but increasing the area under organic farming at the landscape scale could increase pest infestations and reduce crop productivity. Examining the effects of organic farming at multiple spatial scales and in different landscape contexts on pest communities and crop productivity is a major step in the ecological intensification of agricultural systems. We quantified the infestation levels of two pathogens and five arthropod pests, the intensity of pesticide use and crop productivity in 42 vineyards. Using a multi‐scale hierarchical design, we unravelled the relative effects of organic farming at both field and landscape scales from the effects of semi‐natural habitats in the landscape. At the field scale, pest communities did not differ between organic and conventional farming systems. At the landscape scale, increasing the area under organic farming did not increase pest infestation levels. Three out of seven pest taxa were affected both by local farming systems and the proportion of semi‐natural habitats in the landscape. Our findings revealed that the proportion of semi‐natural habitats reduced pest infestation for two out of seven pest taxa. Organic vineyards had much lower treatment intensities, very similar levels of pest control and equal crop productivity levels. Synthesis and Applications. Our results clearly indicate that policies promoting the development of organic farming in conventional vineyard landscapes will not lead to greater pest and disease infestations but will reduce the pesticide treatment intensity and maintain crop productivity. Moreover, the interactions between semi‐natural habitats in landscape and local farming practices suggest that the deployment of organic farming should be adapted to landscape contexts.

Quantifying the impact of crop protection practices on pesticide use in wine-growing systems

Reducing pesticide use is a major challenge in agriculture, and farmers are encouraged to develop integrated practices. The aim of this study was to describe, analyse and assess the current contribution of various options to pest, disease and weed management on the reduction of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides by quantifying both their use and their effect on pesticide use intensity, within the context of different wine-growing regions. We conducted a statistical analysis of pesticide use and crop management over two seasons (2006 and 2010) for 11 French wine-growing regions (10,000 data). We used the Treatment Frequency Index (TFI) indicator to characterise the intensity of pesticide use. We analysed three crop management options: timing of first fungicide spray, type of soil cover cropping, and type of weed control. For each management option, we compared alternative or low-input practices to normal chemical-based practices, e.g., mechanical weed control (alternative option) vs. herbicide (normal chemical option). To strengthen the results, two quantitative variables completed the analysis: fungicide mean sprayed dose in the field and number of fungicides sprayed in the field. Results showed that each alternative or low input practice had an impact on TFI, but that this impact differed between wine-growing regions and between the management options under consideration. Regarding fungicides, our results showed that late timing of first fungicide spray (compared to regional reference) contributed to a reduction up to 50% of the part of the TFI due to fungicides, as compared to fields sprayed at median or early timing. Regarding herbicides, results of low-input/alternative practices were more homogeneous in terms of their relative impact on TFI reduction. The differences in use and impact of crop protection practices were more important between regions than between the two studied years. Our results may help policy makers to target methods for decreasing pesticide use, based on particularities of wine-growing regions and locally realistic practices.

Impacts of agricultural land use changes on pesticide use in French agriculture

Abstract Public policies seeking to regulate pesticide use must be based on a clear identification of the factors influencing such use. Since the agricultural use of pesticides is primarily crop-dependent, agricultural land use change is potentially an important driver of the overall level of pesticide use in a given country. In this paper, we investigate the influence of agricultural land use changes on pesticide use in French agriculture over the period 1989–2013, during which important changes in the Common Agricultural Policy took place. Toward that end, we developed a method allowing the direct effects of agricultural land use changes to be disentangled from other factors affecting the intensity of pesticide use. On the basis of standard protection programs defined by crop protection experts, a fixed pesticide use intensity is estimated for 19 annual and perennial crops representing 90% of French arable land area and the bulk of pesticide use in French agriculture. These coefficients, combined with national agricultural land use statistics, are used to construct an artificial index of pesticide use in France whose variations depend solely on changes in agricultural land use. This index is calculated over the period 1989–2013. Our results indicate that the direct impacts of agricultural land use changes on pesticide use in France have varied depending on the time period considered, reflecting the influence of public regulations, notably the compulsory set-aside policy in force during the 1990s, and market conditions, particularly the context of high prices for cereal grains at the end of the 2000s. Over the six years from 2008 to 2013, this index is roughly constant, indicating that the 17% increase in French pesticide use in 2013 compared to 2008 (as assessed from annual pesticide sales) cannot be even partially attributed to agricultural land use changes. Since 2000, land use changes mainly corresponded to substitutions between crops with similar per-hectare pesticide use intensities, and/or to substitutions with counterbalancing impacts on these intensities. A prospective approach shows that other types of land use changes (e.g. a massive conversion of grassland to arable land or, conversely, a strong diversification of arable crop rotations), could have much higher impacts on pesticide use, with the effect of either offsetting or reinforcing efforts to reduce pesticide use intensity in arable crops. Thus, better coordination is needed between public policies aimed at regulating pesticide use and public policies influencing land use.