On the occasion of the upcoming vote in the European Parliament on the Environment Committee's proposal for the Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR), the president of the German farmers' association, Joachim Rukwied, warns in a letter addressed to around 100 EU MPs about the serious effects of these proposals. “Implementing these ambitious pesticide use reduction targets would in itself place a considerable burden on farmers in Germany and Europe. However, if general bans on the use of phytosanitary products in so-called “sensitive areas” are implemented, this would mean the end of the companies affected in these areas.”

The Soest University of Applied Sciences estimates in a report that the expected average yield losses for winter cereals will be around 30 percent, while for potatoes and winter rape they would amount to around 40 percent. In conventional vegetable cultivation there would be a significant yield reduction of at least 30 percent. The risk of growing without chemical protection is very high; Depending on infection pressure, climate and pest volume, scenarios can reach total failure. “In the so-called sensitive areas, this regulation would effectively mean the end of fruit, vegetable and wine crops, as well as traditional herbaceous crops. "Furthermore, this proposal eliminates any basis for cooperation between agriculture and nature conservation," Rukwied said. “Therefore, with a view to security of supply in Germany and Europe, we once again ask Members to reject the proposal of the Environment Committee. German farmers are still willing to do their part to achieve the Green Deal. But what is important is that the necessary measures are developed and implemented cooperatively, instead of endangering the existence of agriculture in many regions of Germany through blanket bans.”