Major pact wants to break the trend in crop protection

In 10 years' time, Dutch farmers and horticulturists will only use crop protection products with virtually no emissions to the environment and virtually no residues on products for food consumption. In addition, crops must be better able to withstand diseases and pests, which means that the use of chemical crop protection agents can be significantly reduced.

This is the ambition that the cabinet and a large number of organizations from agriculture and horticulture, phytopharmaceuticals and nature and environmental protection have agreed upon in the so-called 'Implementation Program for the Future Vision for Crop Protection 2030'. They claim that they want to achieve a break in the trend in crop protection. Up to and including 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture (LNV) is making a total of €12 million available for this.

Growing resilient varieties
This money will be invested in, among other things, practical research, monitoring and various pilot projects in various sectors and regions. Current technology and techniques must be further developed to make crops less dependent on chemical protection, LNV reports in a statement. To this end, investments are made in resilient varieties through breeding, innovative cultivation concepts and the promotion of natural pest control agents.

It has been agreed that this must not harm the competitive position of the Dutch agricultural chain. That is why attention is also being paid to a level playing field within and outside the European Union, LNV emphasizes. Another element is that the participating parties jointly agree that a scientific assessment, performed by independent bodies, must form the basis for the authorization of substances and that political decision-making has no place in this.

Task not to be underestimated
Innovation does not happen by itself. The implementation program makes great demands on the entrepreneurship and innovative power of both agricultural entrepreneurs and other parties in the chain, Minister Carola Schouten (LNV) announced on Monday at a meeting at Vereecken Fruit in Dronten. "We all need each other to keep agriculture and horticulture future-proof and in balance with nature, the environment and our living environment. This task cannot be underestimated, but if all parties involved continue to take steps, we can come a long way together. "

LTO Nederland is one of the organizations that has rallied behind the implementation programme. "It is becoming increasingly difficult for agricultural entrepreneurs to grow a healthy and profitable crop, due to, among other things, a decreasing range of resources and an increase in environmental and market requirements. Although we as a sector are already investing heavily in resilient cultivation systems, we are pleased that the implementation program now there is a broad responsibility to reach the dot on the horizon," says Joris Baecke, portfolio holder Healthy Plants at LTO, in a statement.

In addition to LTO Nederland, Agrodis, Artemis, CTGB, Cumela, Fedecom, Nature and Environment, Nefyto, NVWA, Plantum, Union of Water Boards, Vewin, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management are participating in the implementation programme. 

The entire report can be viewed here.

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