Christine Lambert, President of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the European Union (Copa), expressed concern, on Monday 30 January, about the content of the forthcoming directive on nature restoration, which the European Commission is due to adopt in June.
For Ms Lambert, this directive, which provides for “strong obligations to return to nature, would deprive Europe of significant volumes of agricultural production, according to the studies obtained”. For the moment, there are no means to accompany farmers in this transition, noted the President of Copa. She questioned “this sanctuary vision of nature”.
On the regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides, Ms Lambert said that speed should not be confused with haste. A reduction or ban on pesticides “may result in a loss of production” in agriculture, she argued. The use of biocontrol is increasing, as is the use of mechanical weeding, she added. Organic farming has developed well, but is experiencing “major market difficulties”, which makes it difficult to reach the target of 25% of land devoted to organic farming, she stressed.
She called for a review of the Commission’s targets for a 50% reduction in pesticide use.
Neonicotinoids. In addition, Christine Lambert denounced the European Court of Justice’s decision to ban neonicotinoids, a decision that she considered “brutal, with 1.5 to 2 months to go before sowing for beet growers”. She warned of the risks of a drop in sugar production and, therefore, of massive imports of products from elsewhere treated with neonicotinoids. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)