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How can we cut down on pesticides?

This year, for the fourth year running, environmentally-minded people around Europe will be celebrating the ‘Alternatives to Pesticides Week’, which runs from 20-30 March. This awareness-raising week was launched in France in 2006 by a network of French NGOs and coordinated by MDRGF, a Paris-based group which promotes environmentally-friendly farming. MDRGF underlines not just the urgent need, but also the feasibility, of producing food and other crops without using pesticides, whether it is on farms or in our own homes and gardens.

Citizens who care about the safety of our farmland, wildlife and food will demonstrate ways to reduce the use of pesticides, and to look at other ways of keeping pests under control. In previous years this widely-supported campaign has seen great success, and public support has been expanding with each passing year. Last year alone some 120 different activities took place, ranging from film screenings and debates to farm visits. The audience extended from school children to national decision-makers. Activities in support of the Alternatives to Pesticides Week will also be taking place in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and other European countries.

In Brussels, PAN Europe will mark Alternatives to Pesticides week with a series of events in association with EESC on 25 March. Proceedings will kick off at 11.30 am with a debate, followed by a drinks reception at 1.00pm to launch a week-long exhibition and a competition to find Europe’s most bee-friendly farmer. For full details, see www.semaine-sans-pesticides.fr.