Historic turning point in the broad movement against synthetic pesticides that threaten bees and human health. The European Citizens’ Initiative titled “Save the Bees and Farmers” is pushing for a ban on synthetic pesticides and a robust biodiversity recovery in the European Union by 2035. The initiative has reached the one‑million signature mark, prompting the European Commission to state that it will consider whether to propose measures in response, as reported by the agency on Monday.
Supporters of this European Citizens’ Initiative are preparing to submit their petition to the Community Steering Committee, after which a hearing will be held in the European Parliament. The Commission has until 7 April 2023 to respond, a window that could lead to proposed legislation, corrective actions, or a decision not to act.
The campaign urges Brussels to propose legislative steps that would cut the use of synthetic pesticides in EU agriculture by 80% by 2030, beginning with the most hazardous products and ending all usage by 2035.
In addition, the initiative calls for the restoration of natural ecosystems within agricultural landscapes. It advocates reforming agricultural policy to boost biodiversity and support agroecological and organic practices, emphasizing small‑scale, diverse, and sustainable farms, while endorsing independent education and research on pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to advance truly free agriculture.
The proposal has found broad backing, with over 1.054 million Europeans lending support; among them, 43,947 are Spaniards, making it the seventh European Citizens’ Initiative to surpass the threshold for Brussels to react. This threshold was introduced in 2012 to give citizens a direct voice in EU policy decisions.
Martin Dermine, the campaign’s chief executive, commented: “In many EU countries, ministries of agriculture appear to hold an unhealthy belief in agribusiness benefits or remain closely tied to the industry, hindering changes that would reduce the food system’s dependence on chemicals.”
The milestone reached by the supporters of this European Citizens’ Initiative is described by backers as signaling an end of an era. It marks a shift away from decisions about the environment being largely influenced by chemical manufacturers and aligned with the Green Revolution that began in the 1970s. Since then, farmers have often relied on special seeds, heavy fertilizer use, and rising quantities of synthetic pesticides to boost yields and profits.
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