News Crop protection
Glyphosate use also falls without a ban
The use of glyphosate in Germany has decreased by more than 12%. Compared to 4 years ago, that is even almost 40%. Even without a ban, farmers and other users are increasingly abandoning the drug. In this way the sector creates independence.
The German Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP) requested figures on the sale of products containing the active ingredient glyphosate. That writes the Mirror newspaper. The most recent figures are from 2016. This shows that 3.780 tons were sold in Germany, out of a total of 32.255 tons of crop protection products. This makes glyphosate good for more than 11% of total drug sales.
About 1 year earlier, 4.300 tons of glyphosate were sold. Sales have been declining since 2012, with a slight increase in 2014. At the peak, almost 6.000 tons were sold. The current volume is still relatively large. About 10 years ago it was 3.960 tons.
Substance use is falling
In 2016, total drug sales in Germany decreased by about 2.000 tons. This may be due to the drought, as less crop protection is required. The area of organic farming is also growing strongly. It is not yet known whether sales have rebounded in 2017. Total drug sales in tons of active ingredient fluctuates from year to year. However, it has been on the rise since 2009.
The German statistical office does not register who is copper from glyphosate and who is copper from other substances. More and more municipalities and municipal services no longer use the weed killer. A decline in sales cannot be attributed entirely to agriculture. The largest consumer of the drug is the national railways: Deutsche Bahn. They consume 67,6 tons annually.
No alternative
Just like in France The use of glyphosate, also known under the brand name RoundUp, is controversial in Germany. It is used in all agricultural sectors. There are reasons for this. The best authorized organic alternative is pelargonic acid, which is extracted from rapeseed. However, this product is more harmful to the environment. The doses are much higher and the effectiveness is lower.
For farmers, the alternative is mechanical control with a plow and cultivator. Conventional farmers are not interested in this, with a view to erosion. "Glyphosate is the most researched drug on the market and has been proven for decades," Carina Konrad of the FDP told the German newspaper. "As a government, if you want to ban such a drug, you need alternatives. The ministry recognizes that there are none."
Use sparingly
The University of Göttingen asked common German farmers about the use of glyphosate. This shows that 37% of the arable land is sprayed with the product, on a total of 11,8 million hectares. Despite the benefits, more and more companies are deciding to use the drug to a limited extent. For example, a 'pre-harvest spraying' in grain is prohibited.
Niels van der Boom
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