The European Parliament passed its resolution on the EU Farm to Fork strategy at its plenary session in Strasbourg, 20.10.21. (1) This is followed by a brief introduction and focus on pesticides, fertilizers, other products of the agrochemical industry.
Green Deal and Farm to Fork, EU Strategies.
The European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen inaugurated its term of office with the announcement of the new EU Green Deal, we recall, on 11.12.19. (2) And the Farm to Fork strategy was presented, on 5/20/20, as its building block. (3) However, the trillion-dollar public investment programs were provided for the conversion of coal-fired power plants, not also for the ecological transition in the agribusiness supply chain.
Therefore, the ensuing debate is in essence about how to accomplish the nuptials. Namely, on how:
– Reduce the use of agrochemicals, promote organic farming and animal welfare, in the absence of public aid in agriculture expressly dedicated to this, (4)
– Ensure that equivalent standards are met on agricultural and food commodities arriving from non-EU countries. In fact, the Old Continent is still the leading trading area on a planetary level.
Socio-environmental sustainability
MEPs first stressed the need to consider sustainable development in a holistic view that encompasses environmental, public health and animal welfare goals, as well as social and economic ones. In this regard, previous resolutions of the Strasbourg Assembly on:
– deforestation and unsustainable commodity imports, 20.10.20, (4)
– corporate accountability and due diligence, proposed directive 10.3.21. (6)
Equity in trade-and thus in the breakdowns of the value chain, which must guarantee the livelihoods of workers and agribusinesses-is recalled, however, only in terms of principle. The Commission is urged to adjust the competition rules, but without recalling the fundamental concept, sales below cost.
Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides
The Assembly calls on the Commission to ‘improve the environmental risk assessment of plant protection products,’ revise the Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides to reduce their use and associated risks. To this end, the Commission, EFSA(European Food Safety Authority) and EMA(European Medicines Agency) should consider, among other things:
– ‘the effects of pesticides on water quality, soil and drinking water sources, including cumulative and synergistic effects‘,
– ‘Improve the harmonized risk indicators established in Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782 to also include toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation, and to take into account the agricultural areas or volumes of active substances and the use patterns of plant protection products in order to effectively reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and heavy metals in conventional and organic agriculture‘,
– ‘adopt clear and scientifically based criteria for what constitutes an unacceptable effect on the environment, taking into account actual exposure (acute and chronic) to multiple plant protection products, including cumulative and synergistic effects.’
‘Insists that the prophylactic use of pesticides, including seed treatment with systemic pesticides, should be limited as much as possible when it poses a danger to human health or the environment.’ And ‘calls on the Commission to submit its legislative proposal on pesticide data by mid-2022at the latest’ (resolution, item 11).
Pesticides and contaminants. Risk assessment
The setting of Minimum Residue Levels (MRLs ) of pesticides and other contaminants must take ‘full account of cumulative and synergistic effects.’ The evaluation of applications for new MRLs-according to Reg. 396/05, Article 14 (7)-must ‘better consider the risks to animal health and the environment.’
Data collected in post-market biomonitoring should be used to verify the accuracy of pesticide exposure levels predicted in the setting of MRLs. Paying ‘great attention to the protection of the health and safety’ of agricultural workers, residents in treated areas, consumers, and farm animals (item 13).
Soil fertility
The goal of reducing nutrient losses by at least 50 percent, without degrading soil fertility, should be pursued by introducing binding measures. It points to ‘agroecological’ practices such as crop rotation with legumes and ‘smart farming’ to improve soil quality and biodiversity.
Member States should propose measures in their strategic plans to promote the efficient management and circularity of nutrients, strongly support the training of farm advisors and farmers, use CAP reform to help farmers end their dependence on mineral fertilizers, and reduce phosphorus and nitrogen flows.
The impact of different fertilizers on climate and the environment, including the presence of heavy metals, must be taken into account. And reduce ammonia (NH3) emissions from the agricultural sector. It therefore refers to precision agriculture, the targeted fertilization tailored to the needs of plants. As well as to ‘recovery, recycling and reuse of nutrients from uncontaminated waste streams‘ (item 14).
Research and innovation
Research and innovation on ‘alternative plant protection products, fertilizers, hardier varieties that require fewer inputs to ensure stable yields, and digital tools‘ must be stimulated, including through the simplification of procedures (for placing on the market) of ‘New plant protection solutions, including plant protection products with lower impact, such as low-risk substances or biosolutions‘.
Europarliament then calls for ‘introducing a separate definition and category for natural substances in horizontal legislation, as well as to engage in initiatives to find alternative assessment pathways for these low-risk, basic, naturally occurring substances.’
‘It alsostresses that the reduction in pesticide use must be accompanied by increased market availability of sustainable alternatives with equivalent effectiveness to chemical pesticides in protecting plant health in order to prevent the proliferation of plant pests.’ (item 15).
Protection of pollinators
It reiterates ‘the crucial importance of protecting bees and other pollinators from the harmful effects of pesticides and diseases.’ With ‘call on the Commission to ensure that the revision of the bee guidelines and future implementing acts do not result in a lower level of bee protection than that set out in the EFSA bee guidelines (2013)‘ #Savethebees!
Principles of risk assessment must come up to date with the latest scientific knowledge, ‘not only with regard to acute toxicity to honey bees but at least also with regard to chronic toxicity and larval toxicity to honey bees and acute toxicity to bumblebees.’ Yes ‘Urges the Commission to urgently re-evaluate substances that have the same mode of action as neonicotinoids‘ (item 16).
A pollinator indicator and restoration target must be established. On this basis, a new ‘EU-wide pollinator monitoring framework with robust schemes distributed at member state level, intermediate milestones, clear and time-bound objectives, indicators and targets‘ (para. 17).
#SDG3(good health and wellbeing), #SDG8(decent work and economic growth), #SDG15(life on land)
Dario Dongo
Cover image: Tesson, Pesticides humor
Notes
(1) European Parliament resolution of 20 October 2021 on a farm to fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system (2020/2260(INI) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0425_EN.html
(2) Dario Dongo. European Green Deal, The new strategy on EU. Égalité. 12/13/19, https://www.egalite.org/european-green-deal-la-nuova-strategia-in-ue/
(3) Dario Dongo, Marina De Nobili. Special Farm to Fork, the strategy presented in Brussels on 5/20/20. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/speciale-farm-to-fork-la-strategia-presentata-a-bruxelles-il-20-5-20
(4) Dario Dongo, Silvia Giordanengo. EU Budget 2021-2027 and #NextGenerationEU, focus on rural development and CAP financing. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 3.12.20, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/mercati/bilancio-ue-2021-2027-e-nextgenerationeu-focus-su-sviluppo-rurale-e-finanziamento-della-pac
(5) Dario Dongo. Unsustainable deforestation and commodity imports. Public consultation on the EU strategy. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 4.4.21, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/deforestazioni-e-import-di-commodities-insostenibili-consultazione-pubblica-sulla-strategia-ue
(6) Dario Dongo. Due diligence, the EU draft directive on socio-environmental responsibilities in the value chain. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 7/27/21, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/progresso/due-diligence-il-progetto-di-direttiva-ue-sulle-responsabilità-socio-ambientali-nella-catena-del-valore
(7) Reg. EC 396/05, as amended, on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin. Consolidated text as of 2.9.21 on Europa Lex https://bit.ly/30YjNco
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
