Campaigners say a major European Parliament hearing on food and farming legislation this week was dominated by a “misleading ‘yield and substance loss’ narrative” in a bid to ensure industry can continue to market and sell “the most toxic pesticides”. 

This argument, says PAN Europe, “turns the problem on its head”. It is the “intensive use of pesticides is itself (that is) driving pest resistance, creating a treadmill in which declining effectiveness is used to justify access to ever more pesticides,” the group said. 

In a statement, PAN Europe said: “This ‘yield and substance loss” narrative locks European agriculture into a chemical model that is failing, while overlooking the impacts of pesticides on health and biodiversity”.

The group says that speakers invited to speak at the European Parliament Food & Feed Safety Omnibus, largely represented organisations linked to pesticide-intensive agriculture, which led to a “deeply unbalanced” hearing

“No scientist with expertise on the impacts of pesticides on human health was invited. This is particularly concerning given the growing body of scientific evidence warning that this proposal will lower the level of protection for human health and the environment without delivering the promised simplification,” said Salomé Roynel

“The answer to pesticide resistance is not unlimited access to pesticides, but breaking the pesticide treadmill through effective Integrated Pest Management, diversified and resilient farming systems and proper implementation of the rules already in place,” stated Kristine De Schamphelaere, PAN Europe’s Policy Officer on Agriculture.