Agricultural production remains the main source of widespread contamination, particularly from pesticides including herbicides and fungicides, which carry serious implications for human health. These biocidal products, commonly called pesticides, have been linked to increased risks of diabetes, reproductive and respiratory disorders, neurological issues, and cancer according to several health authorities and advocacy groups.
The manifesto on pesticide reduction opens with a clear call to action for authorities, environmental stewardship, agriculture, education, consumer protection, and public health. It emphasizes a drastic reduction in the use of these toxic products in food production and a shift toward safer farming practices.
The document is endorsed by four major Spanish environmental organizations: WWF, Ecologistas en Acción, SEO/BirdLife, and the Spanish Association of Organic Agriculture and Agroecology SEAE. They argue that current laws fail to shield people or ecosystems from the harmful effects of pesticides and must be strengthened.
They point to gaps in regulation that hinder effective implementation across scope and practice. The precautionary principle is seen as underutilized, and the groups describe persistent bad habits as obstacles to progress, urging a more proactive approach within European policy frameworks.
The NGOs call on political parties, non government organizations, and public institutions to adopt the manifesto as binding standards for all EU member states, aiming to ensure pesticide use and efficacy are consistently regulated across the Union.
European Green Deal
The European Green Deal highlights the need to cut synthetic pesticide use and its risks by at least half, while limiting the use of the most dangerous products. It promotes expanding organic production and preserving nature within agricultural landscapes as guarantees of long term food security.
Implementation of these goals depends on the Regulation on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, which would compel member states to translate targets into national policies that lower both use and risk of synthetic pesticides.
Several political groups and agro industrial sectors oppose certain aspects of the proposal, arguing that a robust agroecological transition could threaten short term productivity. The endorsing NGOs counter that a healthy, resilient food system requires ambitious measures that protect people and ecosystems alike.
They urge the Spanish authorities with pesticide oversight to study the decalogue and convert it into national law. Negotiations at the European level should be accelerated during Spain’s presidency of the EU to bring an agreement forward before 2024.
These organizations share practical knowledge and insist on a timely agroecological transition toward healthy and sustainable food systems, emphasizing that progress must not stall environmental ambitions or undermine the goals set by the Green Deal.
Decalogue
The environmental groups call for a formal commitment at the state level and present ten recommendations to guide policy and practice:
1. Establish ambitious, binding, and measurable targets for reducing pesticide use both in quantity and in impact.
2. Begin immediate implementation of reduction targets in highly polluted areas to curb contamination at the source.
3. Create a public system of advice, education, and support aimed at lowering pesticide use and its effects.
4. Run clear information campaigns so the public understands risks and safer alternatives.
5. For the agroecological transition, strengthen environmental regulations, design effective standards to reduce widespread pollution, and guarantee access to pesticide free food for all citizens.
6. Implement an integrated system for managing expired pesticides and related waste.
7. Improve available information by prioritizing independent data, performing annual official pesticide use analyses, removing statistical secrecy, and adopting balanced risk indicators that better reflect toxic loads.
8. Restrict the issuance of exceptional pesticide permits and market applications, aside from urgent quarantine needs or direct risks to health.
9. Prohibit pesticide production in Spain under EU rules to prevent domestic manufacturing that undermines safety.
10. Strengthen analytical controls, inspections, and sanctions to ensure preventive and corrective measures are consistently applied to protect health and the environment.
Manifesto references: Pesticide Plague detailing calls for reform and a public petition process is available for review in the referenced document.
Signature collection against pesticides is conducted through a public form to demonstrate broad support for regulatory change.