To address the anger of farmers and to meet a demand from the FNSEA, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is expected to confirm, as part of the new Ecophyto plan, the abandonment of the NODU indicator used to quantify the use of pesticides in France. This indicator will be replaced by a new index, the Harmonized Risk Indicator (HRI), which is an European indicator for assessing risk. These indicators are crucial for monitoring public policies aimed at reducing the use of phytosanitary products. France has committed to reducing pesticide use by half through the successive Ecophyto plans, with the implementation of this plan being delayed multiple times. The decision to pause the plan earlier this year was also part of the government’s response to calm the farmers’ movement.
Specialists, who are all members of the scientific and technical committee of the Ecophyto plan, along with other researchers, published an article on the HAL preprint server on May 3rd, criticizing the switch to the HRI indicator. Their findings indicate that the new indicator does not accurately reflect reductions in the use of low-dose active substances, even if they have significant effects on the environment or health. However, the HRI is highly sensitive to changes in product regulations, particularly when certain products are banned. Additionally, the authors demonstrate that the recent removal of mancozeb (a fungicide banned since 2022) will cause the new index to fall just short of the Ecophyto plan’s objective, without actually reducing the quantities of products used or changing agricultural practices.
To understand these conclusions, we need to first examine the different “thermometers” used to measure pesticide use. The first reference used to monitor the use of phytosanitary products is the quantity of products sold year by year, which serves as the basis for all indicators. The quantity of active substance (QSA) is the primary data point, detailing the amounts of products sold in kilograms or tons. Since 2008, sellers of phytosanitary products have been required to submit an annual declaration to the national water agency, Eaufrance.
In order to effectively monitor the reduction of pesticide use, the quantification of active substances sold is crucial. However, switching to a new indicator like the Harmonized Risk Indicator (HRI) has raised concerns among experts who argue that it may not accurately reflect changes in pesticide usage, particularly in the case of substances with low dosages but significant environmental or health impacts. The government’s decision to adjust indicators in response to farmers’ demands and the need to ease tensions within the agricultural sector highlights the complex challenges of balancing environmental protection and agricultural practices. Further research and discussions among stakeholders will be necessary to ensure that policy decisions are based on accurate and comprehensive data regarding pesticide use and its impact on the environment and public health.
