Ernährung und Landwirtschaft

The Problem

It is generally agreed that about 25% of carbon dioxide emissions, are produced by agricultural sources, mainly deforestation, the use of fossil fuel-based fertilizers, and the burning of biomass.
Although agriculture accounts for only 9% of greenhouse gas emissions, it is the main source of methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. On the other hand, conversion of agricultural land to forest offers considerable potential in absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Most of the methane in the atmosphere comes from domestic ruminants, forest fires, wetland rice cultivation and waste products, while conventional tillage and fertilizer use account for 70% of the nitrous oxides. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the three main causes of the increase in greenhouse gases observed over the past 250 years have been fossil fuels, land use, and agriculture.
Over the past centuries, human ingenuity has led to technological advances in agriculture that have allowed for substantial increases in crop yields, in part stimulated to meet population growth. Intensive agricultural methods are reported to have detrimental effects on the environment.
Agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas increases through land use in different ways:

• CO2 emissions linked to deforestation in temperate regions: where forests and woodlands are cleared to make room for fields and pastures.
• Methane emissions from rice cultivation and enteric fermentation in cattle.
• Nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer applications.

The use of pesticides in conventional agricultural systems not only protects plants from insects, rodents and fungi but also has non-beneficial effects both on human and animal health and the environment
The yield of agricultural and horticultural crops can be severely reduced as a result of infestation by pests and diseases. In order to protect crops before and after harvest, pesticides are used. Conventional agriculture makes extensive use of pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides) which are chemical formulations containing an active substance and other ingredients.

Human Health
Every year over 200,000 tonnes of pesticides are released into the European environment. These chemicals cause harm not only to the pest species they are intended to control, but in many cases have the potential to impact upon the well-being of human adults and children.
This overlap is particularly associated with insecticides designed to interfere with biological systems common throughout the animal kingdom, such as the nervous and reproductive systems. Worryingly, the EU's use of insecticides has more than doubled over the past decade. All of the EU's top 10 insecticides are described as hazardous by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Evidence relating to the negative health impacts of pesticide exposure is rapidly mounting. New findings reported at the European Respiratory Society annual meeting in September 2007 showed adults in contact with pesticides are at a higher risk of developing respiratory problems. An EU study on Parkinson's Disease found that low level exposure may increase the chances of developing the condition - which now affects 1% of EU citizens aged over 60. And scientists in Canada have found evidence linking pesticides with cancer, including Leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Food Contamination
In 2007 the European Commission published the results of its own pesticide residues analysis. Of the 60,450 food samples sourced from across the 27 EU Member States, some 45.7% of food items tested were found to contain pesticides, including 5% – one item in 20 – which contain pesticides at levels above EC legal limits. While fruit and vegetables show the highest likelihood of pesticide contamination, cereals, processed foods and baby foods are also widely affected. In total 349 different pesticides are present in food products sold in the EU . Over 25% of fruit, cereals and vegetables tested in the EU contain two or more different pesticides. While over 5% of fruit, cereals and vegetables tested in the EU contain 5 or more different pesticides. More than ten different pesticides are detected most frequently in sweet peppers and grapes.

Pesticides applied to food crops
More than 140,000 tonnes of synthetic pesticides (active substances) are sprayed onto EU food crops each year – equivalent to 280 grams of pesticides for every European citizen. Grapes, citrus fruit and potatoes are the three most intensively sprayed food crops in the EU and all receive over 6kg/ha of synthetic pesticides.

Pesticides in wine
A 2005 study published by the French Ministry of Agriculture found that French wine was systematically contaminated with pesticides. A PAN Europe analysis of 34 bottles of conventional wine produced from across France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Portugal, South Africa, Chile and Australia found that all bottles tested contained pesticides.

Water pollution
In intensive agricultural systems, the over-use of pesticides and fertilisers means that such quantities cannot immediately absorb in crops and soil. Excess phosphorus, nitrates and pesticides move through the soil and reach water bodies, leading to problems such as algal bloom and contamination of human drinking water. According to a recent study conducted on behalf of the European water industry, pesticide contamination is most acute in lowland river areas, particularly in Belgium, France, Netherlands and the UK. In all four of these countries, a high proportion of the resources contain residues above the legal threshold, often by a significant margin. In Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands too, pesticide pollution in excess of legal limits now affects up to 10% of all groundwater resources. Unsurprisingly, several of the contaminants which most regularly cause water pollution problems across Europe are ranked among those pesticides most commonly used within the EU (the weed killers: Atrazine, Isoproturon and MCPA). With substantial levels of pesticides now contaminating European water resources, utility companies across the EU are forced to spend large sums on water treatment every year. Estimates suggest annual investments of €24.4 million in the Netherlands, €130 million in Germany, and €170 million in the UK. Ultimately these costs are passed onto consumers. [ ^ Back to Summary ]

Policy Relevance

Organic food and farming
Council Regulation (CE) N. 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products.
In 1991, the European Union was one of the first to set up a policy on organic farming defining in detail the requirements for agricultural products and foodstuffs bearing reference to the production methods used. In June 2007 new EU regulations came into effect for the production, control and labelling of organic products (Council Regulation 834/2007on organic production and labelling of organic products). Foods may only be marked as "organic" if at least 95% of their agricultural ingredients are organic. According to the new legislation, producers of packaged organic food must use the EU organic logo as of 1 July 2010. The EU Organic Farming renders consumers confident about the origins and qualities of their food and drink and its presence on any product ensures compliance with the EU organic farming Regulation. At present, organic farming operators can opt to place the EU logo on their products; from July 1st 2010 it will become compulsory. The advantage of using the EU logo is that consumers in any Member State can easily recognise organic produce, regardless of where it comes from.[ ^ Back to Summary ]

Plants and plant products protection - Pesticides
Directive 91/414/EEC on The Evaluation, Marketing and Use of pesticides in plant protection.
Until September 2008, European legislation for the evaluation, marketing and use of pesticides was a shared responsibility of the Commission and the Member States, thus resulting in different levels of protection within Member States. [ ^ Back to Summary ]

Regulation 396/2005 and amendments on Pesticide Residues in Food.
The regulation came into force on september 1st 2008. This Regulation completes the harmonisation and simplification of pesticide Minimum Risk Levels (MRL) throughout the EU. With the new rules, MRLs undergo a common EU assessment to ensure that all classes of consumers, including those more vulnerable, like babies and children, are sufficiently protected. The review of existing pesticides has led to the removal from the market of pesticides which cannot be used safely. Of some 1000 active substances on the market in at least one Member State before 1993, 67% have been eliminated because dossiers were either not submitted, incomplete or withdrawn by the industry. The safety assessment for consumers is undertaken by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The legislation covers the setting, monitoring and control of pesticide residues in products of plant and animal origin that may arise from their use in plant protection. Despite the positive aspects of this new legislation, the application of these regulations is not free from criticism. For example, while EU food safety regulations set maximum pesticide levels, current risk assessments do not take into account the long-term impact of exposure to multiple pesticide residues. [ ^ Back to Summary ]

Thematic Strategy on Sustainable Use of Pesticides that aims to fill the current legislative gap regarding the use-phase of pesticides in the EU (Framework Directive and Regulation Proposal)
In July 2009, the EU Parliament voted to restrict the use of toxic pesticides. The "pesticide package", that will have to be adopted by the Council, includes a new Regulation tightening pesticide usage and authorisation rules in Europe and a Framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, and aims to fill the current legislative gap regarding the use-phase of pesticides. The UK, Ireland, Spain and Hungary oppose the deal, claiming that it will seriously affect agricultural production and increase food prices. [ ^ Back to Summary ]

Good experience

Denmark: national pesticide use reduced by 50%
In 1986, Danish politicians established a national ‘Pesticide Action Plan’ aimed at achieving a 50% reduction in pesticide use. The Government introduced market incentives to encourage low pesticide farming and financed a comprehensive advisory service to work with farmers in using pesticides more effectively.
Twenty years on, the results are remarkable: Denmark’s farmers now use half as many pesticides as they did 20 years ago; Danish vegetables are six times less contaminated than their equivalent imports; water quality has doubled; and without significant economic impact to farmers. The Danes attribute their success to a combination of instruments including clear targets and indicators, a parallel revision programme of all substances in the Danish market, buffer zones for the protection of water resources, and mandatory record keeping. Farmers are supported by a comprehensive independent training system.
Contacts: Email elliott-paneurope@pan-uk.org. More info on www.pan-europe.info [ ^ Back to Summary ]

Italy: a pesticide-free food campaign undertaken by a non profit-making organisation
In 2001 Legambiente, Italy’s largest environmental NGO, launched a project aimed at supporting farmers in producing fruit and vegetables in compliance with a set of standards including improved animal welfare, no use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and zero pesticide residues. There are clear guidelines for farmers joining the scheme and support from an independent advisory service. There is a clear labelling system (LAIQ) and a good marketing strategy, with consumers and retailers accepting a slightly higher price for products that comply with stricter environmental and animal welfare criteria.
Website: www.legambiente.eu/documenti/2004/1112alimentazione/1007laiqcampagna.php
Contacts: Davide Sabbadin email energia@legambienteveneto.it [ ^ Back to Summary ]

• General information on active substances and on plant protection products. Link: ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/evaluation/index_en.htm
• To find out which active substances are approved in Europe, a database can be consulted on the website of the European Commission. Link: ec.europa.eu/sanco_pesticides/public/index.cfm
• Strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides. Link: ec.europa.eu/environment/ppps/home.htm
• Annual EU-wide Pesticide Residues Monitoring Report. Link: ec.europa.eu/food/fvo/specialreports/pesticides_index_en.htm
• Pesticide Action Network website. Link: www.eea.europa.eu/it/publications/signals-2009
• “Pesticide Use Reduction Strategies in Europe”: Six European best practice. Link: www.pan-europe.info/default.htm
• General information on EU activity and policy on the issue “Food and agriculture”, EuroActive website. Link: www.euractiv.com/en/cap
• European Food Safety Authority. Link: http://www.efsa.europa.eu
• Regional and country information is provided with a focus on organic farming statistics. Link: www.organic-europe.net/
• The EU Organic Farming Information System (OFIS) website that provides information on relating to organic products and for the provision of current information for the public. Link: ec.europa.eu/agriculture/ofis_public/index.cfm