For the first time-since the scandalous renewal of glyphosate authorization in the EU in November 2017-a member state is banning its use on its territory. Credit goes to the Austrian Parliament, which on 2.7.19 approved a total ban on the dangerous agrotoxin, applying the precautionary principle to protect the ecosystem and its inhabitants. Organic and ‘glyphosate-free,’ possible solutions in Italy as well.
Austria, policy responds to citizens
Austria’s turn toward glyphosate is evidence of a policy consistent with the needs expressed by an environmentally and health-conscious population. Thus-after the recent crisis in the coalition government between the Populars and the far-right (Fpö)-‘supporters of the glyphosate stop (the Fpö itself, the Social Democrats, the Jetzt ecologists, and the Neos liberals) have managed to win out,’ comments Swiss TV. (1)
The precautionary principle is further grounded in the latest studies on the dangerousness of the world’s most widely used herbicide. As well as in those considered by the Courts that condemned Bayer – Monsanto in the US, in August 2018 and March 2019, for cancers caused to serial users of ‘Roundup Ready‘. This is in line, among other things, with previous assessments by the IARC(International Agency for Research on Cancer, WHO), which already listed the molecule as ‘probably carcinogenic’ in 2015.
Italy, besides the damage the mockery
The Gentiloni government had introduced some mild restrictions on the use of glyphosate in Italy. In fact, Decree 9.8.16 of the Ministry of Health banned the use of glyphosate in parks, gardens and green areas frequented by the public. Moreover, without defining appropriate control measures or sanctions. In agriculture, for that matter, the situation is unchanged.
‘Plant protection products containing glyphosate continue to be authorized and widely used in Italy. Even, conventional farms that continue to use them benefit from CAP subsidies under environmental measures (!).
The ‘glyphosate ban’ hoax was spread to appease citizens by taking them by the nose. The only ban on its use in agriculture concerns only soils consisting of sand, at the stage before threshing‘ (Roberto Pinton, secretary of AssoBio). (2)
Data on the consumption of agrotoxics in Italy, as repeatedly pointed out, do not appear to be compatible with the principles of ‘integrated’ agriculture. Although, in theory, these principles should be applied by all Italian farms(even before the rest of Europe).
Organic and ‘glyphosate-free,’ possible solutions
Only consumAtors-again , as in the recent cases of palm oil, eggs from free-range chickens, antibiotic-free animal husbandry and aquaculture-can force the supply chain to make meaningful change.
Always choosing organic products will force farmers to permanently abandon the use of agrotoxics. In the meantime, the position taken by Coop Italia should be appreciated and deserves support-as a step forward, in this direction. In fact, the first consumer cooperative has decided to eliminate glyphosate and other hazardous pesticides from all fruit and vegetable references under its own brand.
Thousands of farms have joined Coop’s proposal, which was accompanied by a training and assistance program on how to reduce the impact of agricultural activities on the ecosystem. Also throughprecision agriculture. In the dual perspective of reducing agrochemical costs and increasing product value. The egg of Columbus, obviously organic.
Dario Dongo and Marta Strinati
Notes
(1) The government crisis in Austria erupted in mid-May 2019, with the resignation of Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Stracher, leader of the Fpö, Austria’s far-right party. The politician appeared in a video agreeing to an exchange of favors with a Russian oligarch. Austria will vote for politics in September
(2) https://ilfattoalimentare.it/glifosato-agricoltura-divieti.html
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
