2024-10-24 15:00:00
While we often condemn Spain or Italy when we think of pesticides, it is actually the Netherlands and their tulip fields that hold the record for the largest user of pesticides per hectare in Europe. This surprising ranking shows that the biggest agricultural producers are not always the ones putting the most pressure on their land.
The figures do not lie: contrary to popular belief, it is not the major agricultural producers who exert the greatest chemical pressure on their lands, but nations such as the Netherlands (10.9 kg/ha), Cyprus (9.22 kg/ha ) or Malta (8.09 kg/ha). The contrast is stark with Nordic countries such as Sweden (0.73 kg/ha), which stands out for its exemplary management. These disparities show that intensive agriculture is not necessarily linked to the size of farms, but to political and economic choices.
Behind the tulips and high-tech greenhouses of the Netherlands lies an excessive intensity that underlines the obsession with high yields in a limited geographical space.
France remains in the European average with 3.7 kg/ha, far behind the Netherlands. This puts into perspective the mixed results of the Écophyto plan launched in 2008: pesticide use remains an unresolved problem, but we are moving forward. That said, there are notable disparities between French regions. In other words, Europe still has work to do to green its production.
#Netherlands #largest #user #pesticides #hectare #Europe