Spain is the most European Union country. pesticide Used in 2020 with 75,774 tons According to the ‘Pesticide Atlas’ presented by Friends of the Earth together with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Foundation and the European Network, it is a pesticide that causes “serious” damage to people’s health, ecosystems and loss of biodiversity.
Andrés Muñoz Rico, responsible for Friends of the Earth’s Food Sovereignty, explained, according to the text: The use of these chemicals has increased by 80% worldwide since 1990.With a usage representing 468,431 tonnes in 2020 in Europe, Latin America (770,393), Asia (658,529), North America (486,732), Africa (105.757), Central America (90,163) and Oceania (70,421).
He also pointed out that the UK is the largest exporter with 32,187 tonnes, a booming global business with Germany at 8,078 tonnes and Spain at 5,182 tonnes.
Brazil is the main country receiving pesticides with 10,008 tons, followed by Ukraine (6,003) and South Africa (1,702).
astronomical benefits
profits from pesticide divisions the four largest of these chemical companies Syngenta made up $9,900 million, Bayer (9,800), Corteva (5,700) and BASF (5,500).
Among Bayer-Monsanto’s best-selling toxicants, according to the WHO, is “possibly carcinogenic” glyphosate. ($841,000,000); Thiamethoxam is banned in the EU due to its toxicity to bees (242,000,000), adverse effects on glufosinate, sexual functions and fertility, according to the European Agency for Chemicals and Mixtures (227,000,000).
According to Munoz Rico, chemical products have an estimated health cost of 132,000 million euros in Europe.mainly having an effect on the endocrine system, but also neurological effects on obesity and diabetes and reproductive disorders.
And he reminded me that in Europe the maximum allowable concentrations in glyphosate water are 0.1 micrograms per liter, while in Brazil 500 micrograms per liter is allowed.
Marta García Pallarés, coordinator of Ecologistas en Acción’s No to Trade and Investment Deals Campaign, said: This situation will worsen with the signing of the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay).
In fact, “The European Commission and European governments are selling this as the best recipe for economic recovery after the pandemic,” he said, however, this agreement will only “increase deforestation or biodiversity loss through neoliberal policies.”
Once again, “Latin America has been pushed to export raw materials and resources to strengthen industrial sectors in the EU”, he said, and the only thing to achieve will be social, environmental and economic “imbalances”.
In addition, according to the expert; A reduction of 90% of pesticide tariffs at Mercosur is envisioned, which would mean “an increase in the use of these agrochemicals to increase production”. soybeans, sugar, corn or rice or beef, soybeans and depend on pesticides” and “only large pesticide producers will benefit.
Lucia Ortiz, president of Friends of the Earth Brazil and member of Friends of the Earth International, Latin America and Central America, announced the formation of a number of organizations that oppose the signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement as it would cause more. More harm than good for everyone in South American countries.
One death in two days in Brazil
do you remember it was you They use pesticides sprayed in Brazil every two days from these chemicals that kill one person, most of them under the age of 19.
According to Ortiz, Many of these products are new and doctors fail to detect their presence due to poor healthcare in the country.that is, “there is no diagnosis for humans, especially children.”
León Fernández, an agronomist and organic producer from Huertos Vega del Tajuña (Madrid), noted: “the university is linked to agribusiness”and “organic agriculture has only one elective subject” in the four degrees of the School of Agricultural Engineers of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, a situation that has caused “environmentally concerned students to flee”.
Full report ‘Atlas of pesticides in Europe’: https://www.tierra.org//wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Atlas-pesticidas-Amigos-Tierra.pdf
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]