Limited progress on reducing risks of PPPs

The study examined whether EU legislation provides incentives to reduce “dependency” on PPPs. It found that while action has been taken by member states and the commission to promote the sustainable use of PPPs, there has been limited progress in measuring and reducing the associated risks.

The report found that enforcement of integrated pest management use is weak, and that neither the commission nor member states have collected or made available sufficient data to allow effective monitoring of PPP use.

The report comes ahead of a European Commission study in the Sustainable Use Directive, which is expected sometime in the first quarter of 2020.

Leaked Biodiversity Strategy 2030 proposes ambitious changes

A leaked draft copy of the European Commission’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030, seen by BAB, shows that ambitious targets are proposed for a number of key agricultural issues.

One of the proposals is for 30 percent of land and sea to be designated as “protected areas”, 10 percent of which should be strictly protected. This means that any activity in those areas could only be carried out if best available scientific evidence guarantees replenishment of those areas.

Another highly ambitious target is for 30 percent of agricultural land to be under organic farming by 2030. Given that the current organic area in the EU is around eight percent and is market driven, this seems unrealistic.

The document also suggests that pesticide and fertiliser use should be reduced by 50 percent by 2030.

The paper is still in draft form so it is not clear how many of these targets will be in the final draft (due in March) and which will make it into legislation.