Phasing out synthetic pesticides is necessary both to protect farmers from the risks of oncological and neurodegenerative diseases (1,2) and to restore soil fertility and reduce external inputs. Added to the benefits for the agricultural sector are those for public health and ecosystems. (3)
The study ‘European Pesticide-Free Agriculture in 2050’ – published by INRAE, the French Institute for Research in Agriculture, Food and the Environment – shows how this path can allow for a significant increase in agricultural production, in terms of kcal, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. (4)
Eliminating synthetic pesticides, the economic reasons
The use and abuse of synthetic pesticides can be traced back to the clever mix of the false promises of Big Food (whose logical interest is to increase the quantity and variety of products sold), lobbying to lift restrictions on their use, and propaganda through the services of the large agricultural confederations.
Farmers have thus been diverted from the peasant model based on traditional farming practices, polycultures and varietal mixtures, to specialise crops and exaggerate yields. Only to find, over the decades, a substantial increase in costs that were not compensated for by prices. In addition to the greater risks of monocultures.
INRAE follows up on the previous study by IDDRI (Institut pour le Développement Durable et les Relations Internationales, 2018), which had already shown how the transition to agroecology can reverse the decline in production in European agriculture (-35% between 2010 and 2017, in kcal). (5)
Three possible scenarios, to 2050
The phasing out of synthetic pesticides requires a systemic approach involving the recovery of polycultures and traditional farming practices, the use of only those pesticides permitted in organic farming – whose negative effects on health and the environment are minimal (6) – and innovation.
The objectives are to optimise the nutrient cycle and soil fertility, strengthen the plant microbiota, and reduce losses. They also make use of biostimulants (i.e. algae, microalgae and tannins), mycorrhizae, microbial compounds (7,8,9). With a view, among other things, to better remuneration of farmers through higher quality products. (10)
On this basis, the study prefigures three possible scenarios, analysing the interactions of four factors. The value chain in agri-food chains, farm structures, farm equipment (including digital technologies) and farming systems.
Finance in agriculture
The first scenario assumes the rise of finance in agriculture, to the detriment of family and peasant farming, which still characterises the primary sector in the Old Continent, with 94.8% of active farms (Eurostat 2020). (11)
The production model – in this case based on crop specialisation, digitisation and automation, extensive use of inputs in agriculture – is in fact not economically sustainable for small and medium-sized farms.
Pesticide reduction would be promoted by agro-industrial giants through robotics and digital technologies, the use of new patented GMOs. Financial and technological dominance over the means of production, with a view to the standardisation of products on a global scale.
Peasant agriculture and biodiversity
The second scenario expresses the recovery of the values of peasant agriculture while respecting agrobiodiversity. In this case, cooperation and ‘open innovation’ may be oriented towards strengthening the microbiome (of plants and animals) and restoring (agricultural and natural) ecosystems. (12)
Consumers play a key role in the survival of family farming by choosing local food from short supply chains. (13) Also to facilitate the transition to agroecology, which the FAO (2019) itself has indicated as the way forward to provide healthy food to populations. (14)
Integrated regional systems
The third scenario expresses an evolution of the previous one that integrates supply chains, on a regional scale, with effective coordination not only between farmers and consumers but also with territorial and European policies, under the aegis of the ‘One Health’ principle.
The aim of this development is to ensure constant access to a wide range of healthy food in all European regions. Cultivation systems are based on biological regulation and limited external inputs, promoting biodiversity and regulating pests.
Policy against
The EU’s ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy could have enabled the evolution from the first to the second and third scenario, through a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy geared towards ecological transition with direct aid tied to environmental and social conditionality. As well as through incentives to convert to organic farming and the redistribution of aid in favour of family and peasant farms.
However, the lobby of the large agricultural confederations (i.e. Coldiretti, Copa-Cogeca, Farm Europe) has thwarted these reform prospects to favour instead the development of the first scenario identified by INRAE, to the exclusive benefit of the agro-industrial oligarchies. The European Parliament and the Council, with the support of the Commission, as has already been denounced, have in fact:
– thwarted the 2021 (2023)-2027 CAP reform
– rejected the ‘Nature Restoration Law’ and the ‘Sustainable Use (of pesticides) Regulation’.
– eliminated the basic ‘Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions’
– brought forward the deregulation of new GMOs.
Farmers, consumers, citizens
ECVC – the European Coordination of La Via Campesina, the only real representation of small and medium-sized farms – has been fighting for years against European policies subservient to finance-agriculture.
The priorities of the farmers who have been protesting for three months in the various countries of the Old Continent converge on the dignity of income, such as a fair price for products and a ban on sales below cost, but also on direct support for agroecology. (15)
Citizens and consumers, in turn, associate ‘sustainability’ of food with ‘nutrition and health’, ‘no or minimal use of pesticides’, ‘(affordability) for all’, ‘local and short supply chains’. (16) The only thing missing from this shared appeal is politics.
#PeaceEarthDignity, our programme. La Via Campesina, Foodwatch International, our lighthouses.
Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) Dario Dongo. How the agrochemical industry hides the toxicity of pesticides. New studies. Food Times. 13.6.23
(2) Dario Dongo. Pesticides, herbicides and Parkinson’s disease. Food Times. 10.3.24
(3) Dario Dongo. The advantages of organic farming, scientific review by FiBL. Food Times. 2.1.24
(4) Mora, O., Berne, J., Drouet, J., Mouël, C. L., Meunier, C., Forslund, A., Kieffer, V., & Paresys, L. (2023). European Chemical Pesticide-Free Agriculture in 2050. Foresight Report. INRAE https://doi.org/10.17180/ca9n-2p17
(5) Dario Dongo, Sabrina Bergamini. 10 years of agroecology to save Europe, the IDDRI study. Food Times. 25.3.19
(6) Marta Strinati. Pesticides used in conventional and organic farming. Comparative toxicity. Food Times. 16.3.23
(7) Donato Ferrucci, Dario Dongo. Soil nutrition and crops, the integrated action plan in the EU. Food Times. 10.7.22
(8) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Biostimulants in olive growing, organic revolution. Scientific review. Food Times. 14.5.21
(9) Gabriele Sapienza. Microorganism-based biopreparations, regulation and benefits. Food Times. 4.10.23
(10) Dario Dongo. Organic agriculture. Resilience and food security, fair remuneration. The Swedish study. Food Times. 3.3.21
(11) Dario Dongo. The tentacles of finance on food sovereignty and our food. Food Times. 31.3.24
(12) Gabriele Sapienza, Dario Dongo. Microbial biodiversity of soils in Europe, analyzes and perspectives. Food Times. 6.11.23
(13) Dario Dongo. Short supply chain, concepts and values. Food Times. 27.9.19
(14) Dario Dongo, Camilla Fincardi. Agroecology, SDGs, salvation. The FAO Decalogue. Food Times. 12.4.20
(15) Dario Dongo. Farmers in protest, more manure in Brussels. Revolution! Food Times. 27.3.24
(16) Special Eurobarometer survey 505, Making our food fit for the future – Citizens’ expectations. Brussels. https://doi.org/10.2875/826903
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
