EU urged to act against pesticides to fight insect decline

Environmental groups are urging European Union to take drastic action to protect insects, saying in a report Tuesday that more than 40% of world’s insect species are in decline because of pesticide use and industrial farming. Friends of Earth Europe and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, a think tank with close ties to German Green Party, said EU's strategy to protect biodiversity and develop organic farming is t eugh, as one-third of all inspect species are threatened with extinction.

“ evidence is clear: pesticide use is wiping out insect populations and ecosystems around world, and threatening food production," said Mute Schimpf of Friends of Earth Europe.

group said at least 1 in 10 bee and butterfly species in Europe is threatened with extinction, raising fears of an ensuing impact on crop production. According to figures released by European Parliament, about 84% of crop species and 78% of wildflowers across EU depend to some extent on animal pollination.

As part of its

Barbara Unmüßig, president of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, said loss of insects is so important that EU's current plans are t sufficient. She said reshaping of EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) is required to ensure promotion of an “insect and climate-friendly agriculture."

Friends of Earth Europe and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung are also campaigning for a new law to drastically cut pesticide use by 80% by 2030.

“Just 20% of all producers in Europe get 80% of CAP subsidies, this can t be justified any longer," she said. “Large area subsidies from which only a few big farms benefit have to be redirected into supporting small, environmentally and socially viable farming.“

According to figures released by groups, worldwide use of pesticide rose five-fold over past 70 years as factory farming developed. To reduce ir use, y are proposing that at least half of EU's agricultural budget will be set aside for green goals and to support farmers willing to implement techniques that help farmland ecosystems.

EU says it has very strict rules concerning pesticides. Earlier this year, bloc’s executive arm decided t to renew approval for a neonicotiid kwn as thiacloprid because of health and environment concerns. In 2018, EU regulators banned three prevalent neonicotiid pesticides on all crops grown outdoors after scientific evidence showed ir risks.

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