French farmers increased the use of pesticides by 25% over the past decade, as the study showed by the Environmental Organization La Fondation Nicolas Hulot (FNH).
According to the ecologists, the increase occurred despite national goals to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% by 2025.
During the investigation, the results of which were published on February 8, the reasons were studied, including public and private financing of food producers.
However, politicians questioned the conclusions. Parliamentarian Jean-Baptiste Moro said that the results of the study were based on inaccurate data, since only the period from 2009 to 2018 was taken into calculations.
"The study did not take into account data for 2019. In fact, in 2009-2019, the use of pesticides in France decreased, "the politician said.
Further, environmentalists report that state financing obtained by agricultural producers of France increased by 23.2 billion euros, and private investments were 19.5 billion euros for 10 years. But only 11% of all financing was aimed at reducing the use of pesticides, and only 1% was effective in this regard.
According to FNH, 9% of French farms, including large manufacturers of grain and vineyards, 55% of pesticides were used over the past 10 years. It was also found that these manufacturers have the highest level of debt - up to 60% higher than that of other farmers - for many reasons.
First, because the agrochemical products of the road in themselves, as well as a modern pesticide apk need an appropriate agricultural machinery fleet, which is often updated and paid by bank loans.
The report states that wine for failure to comply with the goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions "unfairly assigned to only farmers", while a large share of responsibility falls on the government and the entire food production system.
Nicholas Yulos, Founder FNH and Former Ecology Minister, said that government financing coming from national and European sources should provide real support to farmers in order to reduce the use of pesticides to become a real goal.
He said at a press conference: "We are dealing with deep dysfunction of our democracy, which is not deprived of danger and is not deprived of the consequences. We emphasize one thing: why in state agricultural policy there is such a significant gap between the promises of the republic and the results? Government financing of farmers should be redirected to help them achieve the goals to reduce pesticides. Here is the question: does every euro contribute to public benefit? According to the study, we are very far from it. "
In accordance with the state plan Écophyto II + in France, 71 million euros allocated annually to reduce the use of agrochemistry through such measures as supporting research and assistance to farmers in the transition to organic farming.
(Source: www.connexionfrance.com. Author: Joanna York).