Low Yield Legislation The system that regulates pesticides is flawed. The process of regulation has been politicised, it is increasingly dismissive of science and innovation, and it overlooks the merits of risk-management, and the fact that farmers need access to the right tools to put a safe and secure supply of food on our tables. A RECENT STUDY CALLED
“Cumulative impact of hazard-based legislation on crop protection products in Europe” 1
estimated that due to this hazard-based legislation,
T H E S T U DY ’ S F O C U S
75 400
currently available to farmers might be withdrawn from the market.
OF
I M P O R TA N T S U B S TA N C E S
Researchers analysed the situation in
The report underlines the benefits of pesticides
WITHOUT PESTICIDES
and shows how important it is that EU farmers have
EU farmers might lose up to
access to the tools they need not only to stay competitive, but to help feed a growing global population set to reach almost 10 billion by 2050.
85
7 9
of their yields
COUNTR IE S IN THE EU
24
specialty crops 2
R EPR E SENTING
62%
of EU
crop value of the staple crops 2
and extrapolated effects to the EU level.
for certain crops.
%
key staple crops 2
The potential impact of hazard-based legislation on: YIELD Staple crops2 would face a decrease in yields of 10 - 40 %.
THE RESULT:
Specialty crops2 will be highly effected and could lose
their crops means a greater risk of the development
up to 85% of their yields.
of resistance.
This situation is especially prevalent in the Mediterranean countries where Famers’ toolbox is already extremely limited.
EU RO PE A N ECO N O M Y
The viability of the staple and specialty crops analysed
THE RESULT:
will be at risk, including the jobs that go with them.
Without the 75 substances, a smaller local crop supply will affect EU value chains
I N FAC T, A N E S T I M AT E D
in the form of higher costs and fewer jobs.
540,000
TR A DE
Less options for Farmers to protect
JOBS
The EU will become dependent on imports
will be at medium or high-risk of being lost.
THE RESULT:
EU Farmers ultimately
for more than 20% of its staple crops such as wheat, barley,
become less competitive on a global scale
potatoes and sugar beets while the EU would need to import
as producers in other countries are not
4 million tons of grapes from 3 countries.
held back by such restrictions.
rd
OUR E N V I RO N MENT Today, the cultivation of seven staple crops in the EU results in 83 million tons of CO2 emissions.
THE RESULT:
Without the 75 substances,
the overall carbon footprint will rise by 47%.
1
Steward Redqueen. Cumulative impact of hazard-based legislation on crop protection products in Europe. Final report. 21 July 2016. http://www.stewardredqueen.com/uploads/nieuws/cumulative_impact_of_hazard_based_legislation_on_crop_protection_products_in_europe.pdf
2
Staple crops include: wheat, barley, maize, oilseed rape, potatoes, sugar beet and grapes. Specialty crops include: durum wheat, carrots, apples, beans, hops, onions, brassica, mushrooms, rice, tomatoes (open-air and greenhouse produces), pears, peaches/nectarines, soy, hazelnut, olives, tulip bulbs, apple trees, bell peppers, black currants, citrus fruits, cherries, sunflowers and peas for selected countries.
#WithOrWithout
Country-specific highlights if the farmers’ toolbox is preserved: FR A N CE PRODUC TION Y IELDS
GERMANY
PRODUC TION VA LUE
23 Million
€
5
Billion
tons
PER YEAR
H I GHER
PRODUC TION Y IELDS
PRODUC TION Y IELDS
€
0.5 Billion
tons
PER YEAR
H I GHER
tons
H I GHER
PRODUC TION Y IELDS
PRODUC TION VA LUE
3 Million
PER YEAR
H I GHER
€
0.3 Billion
tons
PER YEAR
H I GHER
2.7
€
Billion
tons
PER YEAR
H I GHER
1.1
Billion PER YEAR
PRODUC TION Y IELDS
PRODUC TION VA LUE
10 Million
€
2.7 Billion
tons
PER YEAR
H I GHER
IREL AND
PRODUC TION VA LUE
2 Million
€
tons
AUS T R I A PRODUC TION Y IELDS
PRODUC TION VA LUE
I TA LY
PRODUC TION VA LUE
11 Million
THE NETHERLANDS PRODUC TION Y IELDS
Billion
4 Million
2.4
€
PRODUC TION Y IELDS
S PA I N
PRODUC TION VA LUE
6 Million
PRODUC TION VA LUE
23 Million
POLAND
UNITED KINGDOM
412
€
Million
tons
PER YEAR
H I GHER
PRODUC TION Y IELDS
PRODUC TION VA LUE
1.4 Million
€
0.1
Billion
tons
PER YEAR
H I GHER
Country-specific highlights if the farmers’ toolbox is depleted: FR ANCE THE
364,000
DIRECT JOBS
GERMANY
UNITED KINGDOM
the yield of sugar beets will drop by almost
lower yields are inevitable: wheat will be most affected with
50%
that depend on the crops covered by the study will be affected
LOWER YIELDS
€ 400
Million
O F VA L U E LOSS
POLAND
S PA I N
I TA LY
Specialty crops apples and blackcurrants will face
Citrus fruit yield loss will result in
Olives and grapes will likely face a
20%
LOWER YIELDS
THE NETHERL ANDS Tulip bulbs, bell peppers and apple trees will face
70 -100%
YIELD LOSS
€ 1.5
Billion
O F VA L U E LOSS
18-34%
AU S T R I A
30,000 J O B S
that relate to the crops covered by the study will be affected that’s equivalent to nearly half of the jobs directly linked to crop agriculture in the country.
CO S T INCREASE
IREL AND Mushrooms will be severly affected with an estimated
€ 108
Million
O F VA L U E LOSS