2023-05-23 04:00:00
Denis contacted us via the orange Alert us button because he is worried: many fields around his home have turned orange. What is this related to?
“I am contacting you because I am concerned to see that many fields around us have turned orange“, writes Denis while pressing the orange button Alert us.
5 hectares atomized in less than 20 minutes
The septuagenarian made this strange observation while walking in the fields bordering his village. Curious, he inquired regarding this strange color. “It seems that the fashion this year is to spray an anti-weed on the entire plot. And so here we are with thousands of hectares sprayed with deadly glyphosate which can infiltrate our drinking water in peace!!“
“However, the monstrous sprayers with huge narrow wheels and loaded with 10 tons of death flout the rules cheerfully and with complete impunity. The 5 hectares near my home were atomized in less than 20 minutes!“
Denis can’t believe it. For him, the situation is not normal. “And to think that if I spray my 10 m² of gravel on the facade I risk a fine and I will then be a ‘bad’ citizen with little respect for the environment… I will never understand this ‘logic’. poor planet“, he concludes in a bitter tone.
Glyphosate, a useful solution
To be sure that this yellowish color is indeed a consequence of glyphosate, we met Gilles. This farmer doeshigh culture“, of the “cereals, chicory, potato, onion, carrots, spinach and vines too“.
For his exploitation, Gilles uses this product and confirms to us that “the first signs of a glyphosate treatment, it is sure that it is a yellowing of the plants. Inevitably followingwards they begin to wither and degrade.”
If he made the choice to use glyphosate, it is for “limit tillage and plowing that disturbs the soil structure“. “This is the most useful solution to avoid plowing“, he adds.
Reasoned use
The fact remains that glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It is also the most disputed.
The way to use this product differs greatly depending on the country and the laws in force.
“We are not like in the United States where we will distribute glyphosate directly on crops. Only spray at a specific crop stage“, explains Thibaut de Clerck, crop production adviser at the Walloon Federation of Agriculture.
“The use of plant protection products is highly regulated“, he adds. “Farmers undergo training every year.”
“We can talk regarding rational use“, says the FWA adviser.
A prohibited product for individuals
At this stage of our article, it seems wise to remember that glyphosate is a product tolerated for professionals, but prohibited for individuals. A decision that comes from the federal authorities, including the FPS Health.
“Since 2018, Mr. and Mrs. Everybody can no longer use glyphosate. They are only professionals who have received our authorization“, explains Olivier Guelton from the plant protection product authorization department. “It is a decision of principle which wants to withdraw from the sale all the herbicides which would not imitate natural substances. We thought it best not to let individuals use them anymore.”
Recognized by the WHO as a probable carcinogen
We told you, this product is very controversial. For years, scientific studies have returned different verdicts, some being sometimes outright funded by Bayer to defend its product.
We therefore have on the one hand those who affirm that “glyphosate is considered a dangerous product“, like Greenpeace.”It has been recognized by the WHO as a probable carcinogen (in 2015, editor’s note). The Bayer company (which produces the herbicide, editor’s note) has been condemned several times by plaintiffs who have developed cancer because of its weedkiller“, explains Albane Aubry, agricultural and food campaign manager for the Belgian branch of the NGO.
On the other side, those who ensure that the product is under control: “Glyphosate is one of the most studied molecules. We sometimes have contradictory results, but when we bring together all the data from all the available studies, there is no reason to consider it a carcinogen.“, says Olivier Guelton of the FPS Health.
An opinion which joins the decision of Echa, the European Chemicals Agency, which considers that the available scientific evidence does not allow glyphosate to be classified as a carcinogen.
In short, it is not clear and the debate is more open than ever since the future of glyphosate in Europe is decided at the end of the year. “We are waiting for the decision (from the European Commission, editor’s note) which will be taken by the end of the year“, explains Oliver Guelton. “If in December, we decide to ban glyphosate, this rule will be effective in June 2025 everywhere in Europe“.
See you at the end of the year to (perhaps) find out the end of the story.
agriculture
Champs
pesticide
herbicide
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