Danish Seed Council
The Danish Seed Council is an independent entity established 1973.
ID: 927036547134-27
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Carmen Avram (Member of the European Parliament)
22 Mar 2023 · New genomic techniques legislation
Response to Sustainable use of pesticides – revision of the EU rules
15 Sept 2022
Seed is the base for all other (plant)production. Seed must be clean and of good quality for the farmer to produce crops either it being conventional or organic food production.
Chemical pesticides (PPPs) in the EU can only be approved when very specific conditions are met in each particular case. Active ingredients may not create problems for either humans or nature when being used by professionals under correct conditions in the approved crops. And farmers must be educated in the correct usage of PPPs not to create environmental problems etc. For decades no accidents has happened in my country because of education, information and strict rules of usage.
When all that said PPPs are necessary to produce many crops in an efficient way and to produce healthy crops. This is in particular true when it comes to seed production.
Seed can carry plant diseases and should be free from major seed-borne diseases. This can be secured by treating the seeds with extremely low quantities of proper PPPs. The PPP will shield the baby plant from diseases or pests and will vanish as it is decomposed after a short period of time.
When seed production is performed PPPs to shield the crop from weeds is in many cases an absolute necessity. That being said we are working diligently in the seed sector to find and develop alternative methods to avoid/cut down on the PPP usage (which is already very low). But it takes time to find alternatives and it requires science and many trials and even at times a blacksmith with a good idea to e.g. control weeds in a seed crop.
The message therefore is clear: Yes we are aware that society want us to use less PPPs and we are working seriously to fulfill those wishes, but it has to recognized that the present usage can only be cut down WHEN new solutions are ready. We are ready for solutions that works, but we are not ready for non-science opinions to jeopardize the base for all crop production. A solution based on science and not on feelings is required.
The whole society in the EU expect enough and reliable food at affordable prices. We are delivering that and will continue to do so.
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