The pesticide burden is at its second-highest level in 12 years.
Økologisk NuThe burden from pesticides sold domestically rose markedly from 2024 to 2025. New figures from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency show that the burden has consequently risen to its second-highest level in 12 years. The figure for 2025 was 2.29, compared with 1.72 in 2024. That represents an increase of 33 percent. The target for 2025 had been set at 1.43. “It is completely unsatisfactory and simply not good enough. The figures clearly call for a new ambitious pesticide strategy that ensures the necessary initiatives to reduce the burden from pesticides. I am about to begin negotiations with the parties in the Danish Parliament on a new pesticide strategy. We must ensure that when pesticides are used in Denmark, this is done in a way that is responsible both for the environment and for the health of Danes,” Environment Minister Maria Reumert Gjerding (SF) said in a press release. The Pesticide Burden Indicator (PBI) is based on the potential overall impact on human health and the environment from the use of pesticides, calculated from a range of data concerning their environmental and health-related properties. **New pesticide strategy** Part of the increase is due to the fact that 33 pesticides containing active substances that can form and leach the PFAS substance TFA into groundwater were banned last year. TFA is considered harmful to fetuses and human reproductive capacity, and the substance is also very difficult to break down. Some of these pesticides were purchased for stockpiling in 2025 before the ban took effect. Even if this share is excluded, the pesticide burden is roughly estimated at 1.99, which remains significantly above the established target. At the same time, an increase can be seen in the pesticide burden indicator measured by consumption, underscoring that the burden from pesticides has not declined, as was the aim of the current pesticide strategy. “These figures clearly show how important it is that we take action on several fronts, and we will do so,” Maria Reumert Gjerding said. She has already called for negotiations on a national ban on spraying in vulnerable groundwater recharge areas. She will also call for negotiations on a new pesticide strategy.
The burden from pesticides sold domestically has increased significantly from 2024 to 2025. This is shown by new figures from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, which thus show that the burden has risen to its second-highest level in 12 years.
The figure for 2025 is 2.29, compared with 1.72 in 2024. This is an increase of 33 per cent. The target for 2025 was otherwise 1.43.
"This is completely unsatisfactory and simply not good enough. The figures clearly call for a new ambitious pesticide strategy that ensures the necessary initiatives to reduce the burden from pesticides. I am about to negotiate with the parties in the Danish Parliament on a new pesticide strategy. Here, we must ensure that when pesticides are used in Denmark, this is done in a way that is responsible both for the environment and for the health of Danes," says Minister for the Environment Maria Reumert Gjerding (SF) in a press release.
The Pesticide Load Indicator (PBI) is based on the potential overall impact on health and the environment from the use of pesticides, calculated on the basis of a range of data concerning their environmental and health-related properties.
New pesticide strategy
Part of the increase is due to the fact that 33 pesticides containing active substances that can form and leach the PFAS substance TFA into groundwater were banned last year. TFA is considered harmful to fetuses and human reproductive capacity, and in addition, the substance is very difficult to break down.
Some of these pesticides were purchased for storage in 2025 before the ban came into force. Even if this share is deducted, the pesticide burden is roughly estimated at 1.99, which is still significantly above the established target.
At the same time, an increase can be seen in the Pesticide Load Indicator measured by consumption, underscoring that the burden from pesticides has not decreased, as was otherwise the goal of the current pesticide strategy.
"These figures clearly show how important it is that we take action on several fronts, and we will do that," says Maria Reumert Gjerding.
She has already called negotiations on a national ban on spraying in vulnerable groundwater recharge areas. She will also call negotiations on a new pesticide strategy.