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De Lugt: 'Neonics file beets must be back on the table'
Now that the French Minister of Agriculture has announced that it will grant beet growers a derogation for the use of coated seed with neonicotinoids, Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten has to reconsider the neonics file in the Netherlands. "An unfair playing field is lurking," said Dirk de Lugt, the chairman of Royal Cosun.
The Ministry of Agriculture in France has thursday 6 august announced in a letter that from 2021 it will grant a derogation for a maximum of 3 seasons for the use of coated beet seed with neonicotinoids. "This news came as a big surprise to us, mainly because France was previously strongly against the use of neonics," explains De Lugt.
"We had an online meeting 2 weeks ago with all member states, beet organizations and sugar factories in Europe. There was a call for a derogation for a maximum of 3 years, but the Netherlands, France and Germany saw nothing in this," said De Lugt. Belgium, Denmark and Poland chose to make use of the derogation for coated seed with neonics, supplemented with country-dependent conditions. "In the Netherlands, however, the conditions turned out to be unfeasible. It was stated, for example, that no flowering crops could be grown on that piece of land as progeny. That is not workable."
The fact that France is now giving in is mainly due to a call from French farmers' representatives and sugar products. They indicate that production is 600.000 to 800.000 tons lower due to the neonics ban that came into effect in 2018. In addition, the sugar yield per hectare is easily 30% to 50% lower due to insect damage. "Although the damage to beets in France is greater than in the Netherlands, there is certainly damage here. In the Unitip registration system we can see that farmers spray 1 to 2 times more. That is not an environmental benefit. The CO2 footprint is also of cultivation is higher now that less is being harvested, so we have gone back in time."
Schouten has to get back to work
For De Lugt, it is a good reason to bring the neonics file to the attention of Minister Schouten again. "A term for this is not yet known, because Schouten is now on vacation. But it is clear that we want to talk." The need for a conversation is linked to the fact that France is the largest sugar product in Europe. "Schouten has always said that he does not want to create an unfair playing field in the European Union. That is now lurking."
De Lugt also wants to think along about a practical solution in which a middle ground is found. "The problem is mainly on the heavier clay soil (where approximately 60% of beet cultivation in the Netherlands takes place). It is therefore especially important for us that derogation can be granted on those soils. We have a closed registration system, so we see no problems."
"We previously had good conversations about alternatives, but Schouten also indicates that he is in a difficult position," says De Lugt. He is referring to the fact that two-thirds of politics in the Netherlands is in favor of a ban on neonicotinoids. "We must therefore either obtain a majority in the Netherlands or find an alternative. And although Schouten has ensured that other drugs are approved more quickly, the box is now fairly empty."
Germany plays a decisive role
Another factor is that Minister Schouten bases her opinion on the opinion of her German colleague Julia Klöckner. "She is firmly sticking to her previous opinion, despite the fact that there are also enough problems in German beet cultivation." De Lugt therefore claims that the Netherlands is partly dependent on Germany. "If they opt for derogation in Germany, then things will look rosier for the Netherlands."
Incidentally, the French derogation has not yet been granted. The French parliament still has to approve the proposal. "That is expected to happen in mid-October. "I am curious what the result will be, especially with a view to the relatively green parliament", says De Lugt. A derogation of 120 days for neonics (such as we have here) is being considered. have for the resources Closer and Batavia) and to an amendment to the French Biodiversity Act, which will probably include the condition that no flowering crops such as potatoes or maize, but also green manure crops may be included in the crop plan. This is unfeasible in the Netherlands.
Kimberly Baker
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