Sales of pesticides in France to farmers fell by 2.7% in France between 2014 and 2015, the first decline since the launch of a government plan in 2008 to reduce the use of pesticides.
This “reverse curve” is “a point that we want to continue and strengthen,” said Stephane Le Foll at a press conference. The decline on a year is still far to reverse the underlying trends as sales of agricultural pesticides are still rising in France in three-year average for the period 2013-2015 compared to 2012-2014.
To make its comparisons, the Department uses a flag set up at the launch of the plan Ecophyto in 2008: “Nodu” for “Number of Doses units” sold. Before declining by 2.7% between 2014 and 2015, this indicator grew by 9.4% between 2013 and 2014. Between 2012-2014 and 2013-2015, it rose 4.2%. But he had increased by 5.8% between 2011-2013 and 2012-2014.
FNSEA welcomes back
The Future Generations association has stressed that the annual decline in pesticide sales was much more pronounced in non-agricultural areas (-14%), that is to say essentially in garden. The FNSEA, the leading French farmers’ union, for its part welcomed the first decline, noting that this was proof that the “ecology by incentive is more effective than punitive ecology” . She also asked to support research and innovation to ensure “solutions alternatives.”
The objective of Ecophyto is to achieve 20% reduction in pesticide use by 2021.
