PESTICIDES: A MODEL THAT’S COSTING US DEARLY

A new study "Pesticides: a model that’s costing us dearly” was published by Basic, CCFD - Terre Solidaire and Pollinis.

The study provides new data to help discuss the issue, based both on an assessment of the costs and benefits of the pesticide sector in Europe and on an analysis of recent trends in the sector and among its main players (BASF, Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta). Above all, the study questions the social and economic rationality of the production and use of pesticides and, more generally, that of the agricultural model that depends on them.

In a few decades, and thanks to the constant support of public authorities, the agricultural world has invested massively in the use of pesticides.

Compared to, the varied agroecological models have proven to be more sustainable. While transition to these also requires investments, these latter will be smaller and above all more sustainable. For example, according to INRAE, the European Union’s “Farm to Fork” strategy’s goal of tripling organic farms by 2030 would cost €1.85 billion per year – less than the annual costs to society that are linked to pesticides.

Beyond assessing the hidden costs of the pesticide sector, the analysis questions the ability of an agricultural and food system that depends on pesticides to achieve any food sovereignty objective.

Download:

Full study (in French)

Synthesis of the study (in English)

Policy brief (in English)