EU backtracks on pesticide reductions in wake of farmer protests

Protesting farmers on the Continent have scored another victory, with the EU Commission agreeing to shelve plans for draconian cuts in pesticide use in a move that has pleased farmers and angered environmentalists.

Two years ago, as part of its so-called Green Deal, Brussels set out plans to halve the use of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals used in agriculture by 2030.

See also: Pressure mounts on Welsh government to pause SFS plans

But addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday (6 February), EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said it was time for a rethink.

The current plan would be scrapped, she said, and further discussions held before coming up with a new, more benign policy.

Damaging food production

EU farmers have repeatedly complained that removing these agrochemicals would damage food production and expose them to unfair competition from non-EU food producers, who are able to export having used such products.

This has been one of the triggers for the widespread farmer demos seen across Europe in recent weeks.

“This proposal has become a symbol of polarisation,” Mrs von der Leyen told MEPs. “Farmers need a worthwhile business case for nature-enhancing measures. Perhaps we have not made that case convincingly.”

EU farmers group Copa-Cogeca welcomed the change of tack. Its president, Christiane Lambert, said the previous approach had been “top down” and offered little to farmers.

But Green MEPs slated the change, calling for new measures to cut pesticide use.

Other concessions

The announcement by the EU Commission came a week after it agreed to delay plans requiring all EU farmers to take 4% of their land out of food production to help the environment.

It also took measures to provide more protection for farmers from imports of cheap Ukrainian grain.

The French government has taken further steps to appease its farmers, with an aid package worth more that €400m (£340m), including direct aid to livestock farmers, additional tax breaks, concessions on fuel duty, and plans to block imports of food produced with the help of banned agro-chemicals.

German farmers have also benefited in recent times from a decision by their government to maintain subsidies on red diesel, while Spanish farmers, who mounted widespread tractor blockades on Tuesday (6 February), have been promised some €270m (£230m) in drought aid and to offset the impact of the war in Ukraine.