Since 2017, the Swiss agricultural world has used fewer pesticides.Keystone
An action plan launched in 2017 to reduce environmental risks for natural environments is starting to bear fruit. The risk of groundwater contamination has already been reduced by 50%.
Since 2017, the agricultural world has used fewer pesticides, in accordance with an action plan launched in this area. The first conclusions are positive, according to an interim report adopted Wednesday by the Federal Council. But crop protection is becoming an increasingly important challenge.
The action plan on phytosanitary products adopted by the government in 2017 contains 50 measures to reduce environmental risks for surface water, groundwater and environments close to the natural state such as biotopes. Concretely, it aims to reduce the use of phytosanitary products by 30% compared to the 2012-2015 period by 2027 and pesticide emissions by 25%.
Subsequently, in 2021, Parliament acted, opposing the two popular anti-pesticide initiatives: it accepted a parliamentary initiative demanding that the risks linked to phytosanitary products, biocides and excess fertilizers be reduced by 50% by 2027 compared to the average for the years 2012 to 2015. The environmental risk was defined according to three criteria: the quantity of product used, its toxicity and the exposure of the treated land.
Eight objectives already achieved
The interim report indicates that the risk of groundwater contamination has already been reduced by 50%, the Federal Council said in a press release. The sanitation of the washing areas for plant protection product sprayers and the reduction in the use of certain insecticides has resulted in positive results for surface water.
For environments close to the natural state, the downward trend in risks still remains moderate. Additional measures introduced in 2023, such as reducing drift or restricting the use of certain substances, should make it possible to achieve the objectives set in the law by 2027.
Among the other objectives set in the action plan, eight have already been achieved or are on track to be achieved by 2027. Sales of plant protection products presenting a particular risk have, for example, been reduced by more than 40% since 2015. Three other objectives of the action plan should be partially achieved by 2027, notes the government.
Crop protection
And to emphasize, however, that the withdrawal of several active ingredients has led to significant gaps in the protection of crops, such as market gardening and fruit crops, rapeseed and sugar beet. Protection has therefore become very demanding and could be even more so with the increasing pressure of new pests.
Viable and effective alternatives are necessary to provide sufficient crop protection, thus ensuring the production of healthy foodstuffs and at the same time ensuring the protection of the environment. (ats)
