Blog

The Pesticide Action Week, an international event in its 13th edition, was held from March 20 to 30, with the aim to promote sustainable alternatives to pesticides.

By Michael Hamell, Chairman of the Annual IPM Symposium

End of pipe solutions are in fashion. It's smarter to treat than avoid waste, to consume in order to save, to take a pill for stress, to arm teachers! At least, that's what we are told daily.

The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) to ban glyphosate (and reform the pesticides approval procedure and protect citizens and the environment from exposure to hazardous pesticides) was officially handed in to the European Commission on 3rd July 2017, with a total of 1,320,517 signatures having been collected from all across Europe. Also in July 2017, Peter Clausing (PAN Germany) together with Claire Robinson PhD (GMWatch) and Helmut Burtscher (from Global 2000)  released a report on “Flaws in Glyphosate Toxicity Assessment”, showing how studies proving negative effects of the substance were dismissed from the pesticides evaluation procedure.

Integrated Pest Management: which sectors have taken up IPM and launch of the Symposium on the sustainable use of pesticides Directive (SUD) , 31/1/2018, Brussels

Last year, Ljubljana, the capital and largest city of Slovenia, was awarded a prestigious European Green Capital title. This was due to fact that the city boasts many ‘green’ achievements, such as natural tap water, lots of green spaces, a traffic-free city centre, etc. In addition, it was the first capital city in EU involved in the zero waste initiative.

The region of Prosecco DOCG in Italy is characterized by intensive wine production, where vineyards cover both urban and natural areas over the entire area, and where pesticides are intensely used.

Yet another impasse in European Institutions’ efforts to regulate Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs), chemicals that interfere with hormonal systems causing significant negative effects on reproduction, growth and brain development among others.