Lack of alternatives
Copper Oxychloride License Renewed Silently
The European Commission (EC) has extended the license of the biological plant protection product copper for 1 year (until January 31, 2019). Health risks for humans, animals and soil are recognized by the EC, but a lack of alternatives prevents a ban.
Despite the fact that the ancient biological crop protection agent copper is not free of discussion, the renewal of the license has provoked little public reaction. This is in stark contrast to the license renewal of glyphosate. The license covers the active ingredient copper compounds, including copper sulfate and copper oxychloride. The first is used, among other things, for hoof disinfection in cows. Copper oxychloride is used as a foliar fertilizer and pesticide in organic cultivation.
Black list
The EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) and the ECHA (the European Chemicals Agency) recognize that the product is harmful to humans, birds, mammals and soil organisms. That's why it's on the "List of Candidates for Subtitition" list. In short that is a black list, drafted by the Commission, with 77 resources slated to disappear.
Out of 26 Member States, 24 Member States voted in favour extension of the license; only France and Sweden voted against. When the EC renewed the copper license in 2014, it forced research into replacements. So far this has yielded little. Potassium bicarbonate and by-products from the dairy industry offer an alternative, but the effect is not comparable.
Copper is indispensable
The organic sector relies heavily on the drug, just like conventional agriculture does on glyphosate. In the Netherlands, the drug came into disrepute when it came to light how much copper oxychloride is used to combat phytophthora in potatoes. It is also used in fruit and vegetable cultivation to combat fungi. Abroad, copper sulphate is widely used in grape cultivation.
EFSA published a report on residues in food in April 2017. Of the 140 crop protection products found in organic food, copper was the most commonly found; more than 2 times as much as the number 2: bromide ion. The proponents call it a 'natural' remedy, which breaks down easily in nature. Studies show otherwise.
Copper actually accumulates in the soil. More and more vineyards in Europe and in the United States (US) are therefore no longer using the plant protection product. The research has also shown that organisms can build up a resistance to copper sulphate. This is already the case in the US.
Discussie
In the Netherlands, copper oxychloride is permitted as a foliar fertilizer, but it is also widely used for fungal control. Potato trading house Agrico and biological supervisor Skal are trying to stop the abuse to stop† Among other things, by launching phytophthora-resistant potato varieties on the market as soon as possible.
A disadvantage is that the popular varieties, such as Agria, are sensitive. In 2016, the disease pressure was high, which led to a lot of discussion about the use and abuse of the substance. Last year, the disease pressure was considerably lower, and as a result the discussion also decreased.
Niels van der Boom
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