The use of crop protection products in Dutch agriculture has declined sharply over the past twelve years, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Total use of active ingredients in 2024 amounted to 3,9 million kilos, a decrease of almost a third compared to 2012 (5,76 million kilos).
This trend aligns closely with previous research by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), which showed that farms have been working for years to reduce pesticide use through stricter regulations, improved cultivation techniques, and the rise of integrated pest management (IPM). The banning of pesticides also plays a role in this.
The largest decline is observed in products against fungal and bacterial diseases. Usage fell from 2,19 million kilos in 2012 to 1,66 million kilos in 2024 (-24%). Weed control and defoliation also showed a downward trend, from 1,25 million kilos to over 1,05 million kilos.
This trend supports the practice of more targeted spraying and the increasing use of techniques such as precision farming, strategic crop rotation, and mechanical weed control. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has previously acknowledged these developments as a key driver of the structural decline.
Dosage per hectare drops sharply
Not only is the total quantity decreasing, but the application rate per hectare is also showing a downward trend. For all active ingredients combined, the average application rate decreased from 8,0 kilos per hectare in 2012 to 5,6 kilos per hectare in 2024. This indicates that products are being applied more efficiently and that growers are using less intensive regimens. For fungicide control, the application rate even decreased from 6,1 kilos per hectare to 3,7 kilos per hectare, a decrease of over 39%.
The total cultivation area remained relatively stable between 2012 and 2024, at around 690.000 and 720.000 hectares. The decrease in pesticide use cannot, therefore, be explained by a smaller agricultural area, but rather by changes in cultivation practices and stricter crop protection policies.
Potatoes and onions
Over a longer period, the use of crop protection products for ware potatoes has also decreased. However, the figures show that more products were used last year to combat diseases and pests than in 2020. This can be explained by the fact that the weather plays a very important role in the extent to which products must be used to control diseases like phytophthora.
It is striking that more pesticides were used in ware potato cultivation than in starch potato cultivation. Pesticide use in ware potato cultivation rose from 7,8 kilograms in 2020 to 9,6 kilograms last year. For starch potatoes, the use decreased from 11,6 kilograms in 2020 to 7,8 kilograms in 2024. According to last year's figures, starch potato growers sprayed less against phytophthora and also less against weeds than their counterparts with ware potatoes.
mancozeb
The ban on mancozeb has significantly reduced the required number of kilograms to combat phytophthora in starch potato cultivation. Approximately 7,5 to 9,5 kilograms of mancozeb were used annually. Last year, propamocarb was the main ingredient, alternating with fluazinam and nine other products. In ware potato cultivation, propamocarb was used in particular.
Despite weather variations, a further reduction has been achieved in seed onions. In 2012, 19,4 kilograms of active ingredient were applied per hectare, while last year this was limited to 6,2 kilograms. This means that pesticide use decreased by two-thirds during that period. The reduction was primarily achieved in fungicide use, with weed control and germination inhibitors decreasing by a third.
NAV is pleased with the downward trend
The Dutch Arable Farmers' Union (NAV) is pleased with the downward trend in crop protection product use, as shown in Statistics Netherlands' 2024 study. "As Statistics Netherlands also notes, 2024 was a very wet year, making conditions very favorable for fungi. We see that fungicide use (antifungal agents) is relatively high in potatoes to control the aggressive potato blight, phytophthora. Controlling this disease is legally required in both organic and conventional cultivation. Compared to 2016, which was also a wet year, use is lower."
The NAV notes that kilograms of active ingredient are not the right way to measure the use and environmental impact of crop protection products, because green products often require more kilograms or more applications. "By only measuring kilograms of active ingredient, the greening process is not reflected in the figures." The union welcomes the increasing attention to accelerating the authorization of green products, including in the European Parliament.