Environmental and human health at risk – scenarios to achieve the EU’s 50% pesticide reduction goals.

Abstract The recently released Farm to Fork Strategy sets, for the first time ever, pesticide reduction goals at the EU level: 50% reduction in overall use and risk of chemical pesticides and 50% use reduction of more hazardous pesticides. However, little guidance is provided to achieve these targets. In this study, we compiled the characteristics and recommended application rates of 230 EU approved, synthetic, open-field use active substances and explored the potential of eight pesticide reduction scenarios (defined based on application rates, pesticide type, persistence, and hazard) to achieve the reduction goals. Our approach revealed that all 230 substances are potentially harmful to humans or ecosystems, and that only severe pesticide use restrictions such as full conversion to organic farming or allowing only low hazard substances will result in 50% reductions. Our results emphasis the need of an EC action plan on how to achieve and maintain the aimed reduction levels.