The 4th edition of the Symposium, hosted by Pavel Poc, Member of the European Parliament, and co-organized by Euro Coop, Greenpeace, IBMA, IOBC-WPRS and PAN Europe, took place on the 19th November. Experts shared their experience on the growing demand and market for non-chemical tools as alternatives to pesticides in pest management. Farmers, scientists, industry, NGOs and co-operative retailers presented insights and ways forward to significantly reduce pesticide dependency. This year the symposium also addressed the economic opportunities that reducing pesticide dependency provides, as well as presented concrete and promising changes to move from intensive apple production to sustainable apple growing. In addition, participants discussed the progress and limitations of Member States’ implementation of the EU Directive on Sustainable Use of Pesticides (SUPD; EC/128/2009).
View the programme and the biographies of the speakers and conclusion of the Chairman:
Chaired by Michael Hamell, Professor of Agriculture, University College Dublin:
- Welcome by Pavel Poc, member of the European Parliament and by Michael Hamell.
Pesticide policies, testimonies from EU and national institutions:
- European Commission report on the implementation of the Sustainable use directive - Ladislav Miko, Deputy Directeur General, DG health, European Commission.
- The Dutch Example - Anita Conijn, Netherlands Ministry of Economics Affairs.
- The way forward for Belgian towns, a way to ensure serious implementation of the SUD - Vincent Van Bol, Belgian Federal Ministry of Health.
Sustainability and innovation, a business perspective:
- Willem Ravensberg, producer of biological control products.
- Philippe Rothgerber, fruit and wine grower.
- Rosita Zilli, Eurocoop.
Sustainable use of pesticides as a growth podel for Europe:
- The benefits of sustainable agriculture - Wyn Grant, University of Warwich.
- Healthy workers a key in Europe's growth model - Jesper Lund Larsen, Danish workers union.
Debate with MEPs Pavel Poc, Jytte Guteland and Damiano Zoffoli.
Towards sustainable apple growing - current reality and farmers' success stories:
- History of biocontrol and IPM on apple, outlook on future research challenges - Claudio Ioriatti and Alberto Dorignoni, IOBC-WPRS.
- Pesticide use in European Agriculture - apple production as a case study - Marco Contiero, Greenpeace Agriculture Policy Director.
- How field practice uptakes research innovation - Alessandro Dal Piaz, Freshfel, Director of Assomela and Italian apple grower.
- Danny Billens - organic apple grower, Belgium.
Debate with MEPs Herbert Dorfmann, Marco Zullo, and European Commission DG Agriculture representative Alessandro Rossi - Unit on horticultural products.
Implementation of the sustainable use directive:
- Time for a serious revision of National Action Plans - Henriette Christensen, PAN-Europe.
- The low-risk concept in regards to the Sustainable Use Directive - David Cary, IBMA.
Debate with MEPs Karin Kadenbach, Pavel Poc, Rosa d'Amato, and European Commission DG Health representative Patrizia Pitton.
Conclusions by Michael Hamell.
Related information: Public conference organised by the Greens/EFA Why Soil matters? A European perspective on 18 November.
