Anthea McIntyre MEP has hosted the European Agri-Food Chain Roundtable in Brussels. Plant protection products are a huge issue for Europe’s food producers. Many national associations of the fruit and vegetable-processing industry in Europe came together to discuss their call for a coherent policy on plant protection solutions with representatives of the European Parliament and Commission.

Introducing the event, Miss McIntyre said: “I start from the point of view of the real concern for food security and the rising worldwide demand for food.  While over 840 million people in the world do not have enough to eat, Europe, with its favourable soils and climate, surely has a moral obligation to optimise agricultural output and to increase production in a sustainable way with less impact on the environment.  

“We know that fruit and vegetables account for 18% of the total value of agricultural production from only 3% of cultivated land and the on-going loss of active substances to protect crops is becoming a crucial factor affecting their sustainable production throughout Europe.  Since 2001, farmers have lost more than half of the active substances approved for use in the EU. According to industry experts, a further 40 active substances are likely to be lost or restricted in their use.

The risk is particularly acute for minor uses and speciality crops, where the availability is already very limited. A good example is asparagus. 10 years ago asparagus was eaten by just 3% of the UK population but today that figure has risen to 17%. British asparagus is grown on just 2,000 hectares and the marketplace is so undersupplied that some 40% of all asparagus consumed during the UK season is imported – mainly from Peru. Asparagus growers in Peru have permitted use of a much larger range of agri-chemicals than growers in the UK. The economics of asparagus production in the UK are already difficult due to the very restricted range of chemistry available. Further losses would make things very difficult for asparagus growers. It’s not commercially viable to grow asparagus as an outdoor crop in the UK without effective residual herbicides. Mechanical cultivation damages the crop, shortens economic life, and provides ineffective weed control compared with residual herbicides. Without more new herbicide approvals, the continuing availability of existing herbicides is vitally important. Without this we will not see continuing production of asparagus in the UK.  

“Banning the use of pesticides before ecologically sound alternatives are developed threatens our food security as well as the livelihoods of the millions of producers and suppliers involved in the supply chain.

“We need appropriate regulation that is risk-based and science-led, properly balancing risk and innovation. We need the Commission to develop a clear and consistent regulatory environment, giving producers and processors the confidence they need to invest in new and innovative products.  Farmers and consumers, alike, appreciate the importance of regulatory controls, but these controls need to be proportionate, properly applied through risk assessment, based on clear guidelines and underpinned by robust scientific evidence. This will ensure a thriving agricultural sector and safe food.”