Calculates German study
Impact of possible glyphosate ban is huge
AG Glyphosat, a partnership of glyphosate-producing companies, has commissioned the German Kleffmann Group to investigate the consequences of a possible glyphosate ban in the European Union. These figures show that the consequences are significant. The financial yield per crop decreases in some cases by a maximum of three quarters.
In the past, more studies have been conducted into the consequences of a ban on the herbicide glyphosate. However, according to AG Glyphosat, this has not been examined per crop. "The purpose of this research is to reflect at the farm level what the consequences are," says spokeswoman Ursula Lüttmer-Ouazane. "A group of farmers and consultancy have assessed the results. For this we also looked at the importance of the different crops within the company."
Looking at costs and revenue
The study is based on 2 scenarios. The crops of winter wheat, winter barley, rapeseed, silage maize and sugar beet were assessed for this purpose. In the first scenario, only the extra costs in labor required to grow the crops and the direct cost increases as a result of the loss of glyphosate were considered. In the second scenario, a reduced yield as a result of the ban has been taken into account. This varies from 0% for fruit to 10% in wheat, barley, maize and rapeseed.
Biggest impact in hectare yield
The largest cost items are additional processing costs, including increased diesel consumption, resistance problems, increased erosion, soil damage and a possible reduction in yield. For example, the report states that diesel costs will increase by 20% on average for wheat and the costs of crop protection products by 10%. This means that the gross profit contribution for wheat decreases by 36% in the first scenario and by almost 80% in the second scenario. That is much more for barley and maize. Scenario 1 fluctuates between 15% and 72%. In scenario 2 this is 28% to 134%.
CO2 emissions significantly higher
More tillage and more spraying result in more diesel consumption. The direct consequence of this is an increase in CO2 emissions, the report concludes. This will increase between 28 and 61 kilos per hectare. Assuming that 3,6 million hectares of German farmland (30% of the total) are treated with glyphosate annually, that is 100.800 tons of extra CO2 per year in this country alone.
Farmers must act
According to the initiators, the report should wake up farmers and bring arguments to commit themselves to preserving the substance. Thoralf Küchler, of AG Glyfosat, admits that things are looking good at the moment. "However, it is not saying that there will be no ban in the EU. We therefore need the influence and voice of the farmer. They are in contact with the consumer."
Positive outlook
The glyphosate license expires on December 15, 2017. At the moment it looks like the European Commission is extending that license for another 10 years, but that is not certain. Member States can submit their opinion on the decision until 1 September. The EC can already make a decision on 5 October. Küchler himself hopes for a 15-year extension.
Niels van der Boom
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