On September 17, 2024, Friends of the Earth Hungary in collaboration with PAN Europe, Hand Alliance, and Friends of the Earth Europe organised a conference titled “A Path Towards Resilient EU Agriculture - How to Reduce Pesticide Dependency” in Budapest, hosted by the Ombudsman for Future Generations of Hungary. The event sought to urge the Hungarian EU Presidency to prioritise pesticide reduction. This is in line with the EU Green Deal objectives, specifically the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. It is also an important goal of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD), which was adopted by the EU in 2009.
The Hungarian EU Presidency holds a pivotal role, being the first rotating presidency of the Council after the EU elections. It is responsible for ensuring that the European Commission delivers legislation that aligns with the EU's ambitious pesticide reduction targets.
Professor Gyula Bándi, the Ombudsman for Future Generations, opened the event by emphasising the serious risks posed by pesticides to human health and biodiversity. He strongly advocated for a broader shift towards organic agriculture. István Farkas, co-president of FoE Hungary, also asked the Hungarian Presidency to foster change to reduce pesticide dependency within the current legislative framework.
Representing the Hungarian Presidency, Dr Márton Nobilis, the Secretary of State responsible for food chain safety at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, expressed concern that the 50% pesticide reduction target proposed in the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR) may unfairly impact Hungarian farmers, who, he argued, already use fewer pesticides compared to the EU average.
The Call for Change
Dr Martin Dermine, Director of PAN Europe, reiterated that there is no such thing as safe pesticide use, with farmers themselves being among the most affected. The future of Europe’s agriculture depends on resilient systems that minimise pesticide use while enhancing biodiversity. Since the Commission withdrew the proposal for a new Regulation to reduce pesticides by 50% until 2030, it is up to EU decision-makers to decide how this obligation will be fulfilled. They can do this either through new legislation or through a thorough revision of how the existing Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directives is implemented in Member States, to make it meet its objectives. Dr Dermine highlighted there is no alternative for health and the environment: we need to move towards resilient agroecological practices, phasing out synthetic pesticides will reconcile farmers, citizens and the environment.
Critiques on the implementation of current legislation
A number of speakers addressed the limitations of the current regulatory framework. Professor András Székács, representing the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER), underscored the gaps in risk assessment during pesticide authorisation. He pointed out that current evaluations focus too heavily on the lethal dose (LD50) while often neglecting sublethal effects, which are equally harmful to ecosystems and human health. He also highlighted the need for more independent evaluations, as current processes are not independent enough, often routine and fail to capture the full environmental impact.
Real-World Examples of Pesticide-Free Farming
A highlight of the conference was the presentation by Mátyás Bekecs, a Hungarian farmer, who illustrated how eliminating pesticide use on his 500 hectares of land led to higher-quality food production while fostering harmony with nature. By discontinuing chemical applications and minimising soil disturbance, he created conditions that further reduced the need for chemicals. Bekecs emphasised the importance of covering the soil with mulch to prevent moisture loss and conserve every drop of water, thereby creating an environment where weeds struggle to grow while being more resistant to droughts.
With the implementation of cover crops, he noted that weeds cannot invade. "What is a weed?" he asked. "It's something that animals can eat as fodder." By allowing cows to graze on cover crops in the fields, he effectively reduced feed costs. Mr Bekecs highlighted that biodiversity is crucial; avoiding monoculture prevents the attraction of pests, and using fungicide-treated seeds hampers the development of proper fungal relationships. He also pointed out that insect integration is vital—killing one crop-pest insect can result, as collateral damage, in the loss of 1,700 beneficial ones. To counter this, they began providing habitats for beneficial insects. His message to fellow farmers was clear: focus on profitability, not just yield. This approach embodies pesticide-free regenerative agriculture, prioritising sustainability, biodiversity, and a reduction in chemical use while simultaneously increasing profits through a balanced ecosystem.
Public Concerns and the Way Forward
Róbert Fidrich, MTVSZ/FoE Hungary highlighted the importance of policy coherence in the issue of pesticides too. While the EU set a goal to reduce pesticide use in Europe, the trade policy of the block with various free trade agreements (eg. EU-Mercosur Agreement) creates the possibility for the chemical industry to increase the export of pesticides to third countries. A few years ago an investigation by Public Eye and Unearthed, the research unit of Greenpeace UK revealed that 81 165 tonnes of 41 pesticides banned in the EU has been exported to third countries (mainly LMIC countries) in 2018. An investigation by PAN Europe made in 2020 revealed that these banned pesticides come back into Europe through residues present in imported food. On 5 June 2024, More than 200 civil society organisations urged Member States to make the commitment to stop EU production and exports of banned and hazardous pesticides in the next strategic agenda. We send a similar message to the Hungarian EU Presidency: put this issue on the agenda of the upcoming Council meetings as well as stop the ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion that included representatives from Hungary's pesticide authority, PAN Europe, Copa Cogeca Hungary, and academia. While some participants highlighted the importance of maintaining food quality, Dr Judit Háhn from MATE University raised the issue of "cocktail effects"—the under-researched risks posed by multiple interacting chemicals, also added that in relation to this, the effects of pesticide formulations are less studied, as assessments mainly focus on the active ingredients.
Viktor Balazs, representative of the National Chamber of Agriculture (Copa Cogeca HU), highlighted the ambivalence in agriculture: on one hand, there is the need to meet consumer demand for healthy, nutrient-rich crops, while on the other, ensuring effective pest control. He emphasized the "trilemma" facing agriculture: balancing societal expectations, economic viability, and environmental safety. If any of these pillars are compromised, sustainability is at risk. Balazs also stressed that providing affordable food for consumers remains a top priority for them.
Gergely Simon pointed to surveys from Eurobarometer and PAN Europe, showing that a significant portion of Europeans are concerned about pesticide risks and support stricter regulations. He noted the success of recent European Citizens’ Initiatives, which have gathered over 1 million signatures in support of banning glyphosate and drastically reducing pesticide use across Europe.
Conclusion
NGOs and scientists call for immediate legislative action to reduce Europe's reliance on pesticides - in line with EU legislation - highlighting the need for Integrated Pest Management and agroecological practices.
Conference Programme and Conference Recording (soon!)
