New pesticide levels worry the environment minister
Økologisk NuOver 3,000 tons of chemical pesticide active substances are sold annually in Denmark, which are sprayed on fields and plants. And although it is politically decided that pesticide loads should decrease, the current development is not heading in that direction. This is shown by new EU calculations, according to a press release from the Ministry of Environment. EU calculates each year the total pesticide load for each country based on reports of the quantities sold, and it shows that the load here is roughly at the same level as the previous 10 years. Therefore, the environment minister calls for new, ambitious goals and tools when the next pesticide strategy is to be negotiated. "I am deeply concerned that since 2022 we have had an announced goal to reduce the load, but it seems we are not succeeding. The load has remained at the same level for 10 years. Even though these are approved pesticides, they still burden the environment and health. Therefore, I will approach the work on a new pesticide strategy ambitiously, and I look forward to negotiating it with the parties of the Parliament," says Maria Reumert Gjerding (SF). "Urgent" need for a ban Denmark also has its own indicator for pesticide load, used in the Pesticide Strategy 2022-2026, which cannot be directly compared to the European one — however, the Danish indicator also shows a trend of stagnation in pesticide load. Ahead of negotiations on a new pesticide strategy, a final assessment is being made to determine whether the target for 2025 has been met. "This also emphasizes how urgent it is to implement a ban on spraying above our vulnerable groundwater aquifers, where our drinking water is formed. I am in full negotiations with the parties of the Parliament, and it is the government's ambition that the spraying ban should be implemented as quickly as possible," says Maria Reumert Gjerding, who is scheduled to begin negotiations on the pesticide strategy for 2027-2031 this fall. The goal of the pesticide strategy is to reduce the use of pesticides by, among other things, strengthening integrated pest management (IPM) initiatives and promoting alternatives, such as biological solutions and technological innovations.
Over 3,000 tons of chemical pesticide active substances are sold annually in Denmark, which are sprayed on fields and plants. And although it is politically decided that pesticide load should decrease, the current development is not heading in that direction.
This is shown by new EU calculations, writes the Ministry of Environment in a press release.
EU calculates each year the total pesticide load of individual countries based on their reports of sold quantities, and they show that the load here is at about the same level as the previous 10 years.
Therefore, the environment minister calls for new, ambitious goals and tools when the next pesticide strategy is to be negotiated.
"I am deeply concerned that since 2022 we have had an announced goal to reduce the load, but it seems we are not succeeding. The load has remained at the same level for 10 years. Even though these are approved pesticides, they still burden the environment and health. Therefore, I will approach the work on a new pesticide strategy ambitiously, and I look forward to negotiating it with the parties of the Parliament," says Maria Reumert Gjerding (SF).
"It’s urgent" for a ban
Denmark also has its own indicator for pesticide load, used in the Pesticide Strategy 2022-2026, which cannot be directly compared with the European one — however, the Danish indicator also shows a trend of stagnation in pesticide load.
Before negotiations on a new pesticide strategy, a final assessment will be made to determine whether the target for the load, set for 2025, has been met.
"This also emphasizes how urgent it is to implement a ban on spraying above our vulnerable groundwater reservoirs, where our drinking water is formed. I am in full negotiations with the parties of the Parliament, and it is the government's ambition that the spraying ban should be implemented as soon as possible," says Maria Reumert Gjerding, who is scheduled to begin negotiations on the pesticide strategy for 2027-2031 this fall.
The goal of the pesticide strategy is to reduce the use of pesticides by, among other things, strengthening integrated pest management (IPM) initiatives and promoting alternatives, such as biological solutions and technological solutions.