Minister of the Environment Karolina Skog (MP) now has the chance to vote against a renewed approval of the chemical pesticide glyphosate in the EU.

It would promote more sustainable agriculture that benefits biodiversity.

Our roughly 5 organic farmers show that it is possible to produce Krav-labelled and organic food without spreading chemical pesticides such as glyphosate in our nature.

There is a storm in the EU over the chemical pesticide glyphosate. On 25 October, Member States were to vote on a ten-year renewed authorization for the controversial herbicide, but the vote was suspended because the proposal lacked sufficient support. On November 9, it is time for a vote again. We assume that Sweden and other member states show that it is time to lead EU agriculture out of today's dependence on chemicals.

Biodiversity is strongly threatened

Biodiversity on our planet is under great threat. Recently, a study came out that showed that 75 percent of the flying insects had disappeared from nature reserves in Germany in the last 27 years. Researchers from Radboud University in the Netherlands highlight the use of chemical pesticides and a reduction in wild vegetation in agricultural landscapes as probable causes of the dramatic reduction.

The cultivation methods that Krav-certified and organic farmers use contribute to increased biological diversity. There are 30 percent more species of plants, insects and other animals in organic farming. This shows a review of the research in the area that was done in 2014 by researchers from, among others, Oxford University and SLU.

Glyphosate is the world's most widely used chemical pesticide, in Sweden between 600 and 700 tonnes are sold per year. Unfortunately, all the glyphosate that is sprayed in the fields to kill weeds does not stop there, but some ends up in our watercourses. This can be seen in SLU's environmental monitoring of pesticides; in 2016, glyphosate was found in almost all, 96 percent, of the water samples.

Contaminates the soils

A report from the European Commission's Joint Research Center and two Dutch universities also shows that glyphosate, or its degradation product AMPA, is found in 45 percent of European agricultural soils. The researchers point to risks for people who may be exposed through weather and wind, as well as that the health of the soils is negatively affected.

Prior to the EU decision, it has been debated whether glyphosate is carcinogenic. In 2015, the World Health Organization's cancer research body, IARC, issued a report that sounded the alarm that glyphosate is likely to be carcinogenic. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), on the other hand, believes that the evidence for this is not strong enough.

In addition to the environmental and health risks that exist, we believe that the continued use of glyphosate and other chemical pesticides slows down the development of sustainable cultivation methods. It also counteracts several of the environmental goals and ambitions that the government safeguards in other contexts, such as the environmental quality goals of a non-toxic environment and a rich agricultural landscape.

Not using unnatural chemical pesticides is the foundation on which the Krav-certified and organic cultivation is based. It promotes innovative and more environmentally friendly solutions to combat weeds, pests and diseases. The basis for coping with weed pressure in organic farming is a varied crop rotation and including forage plants in the crop rotation.

Both animals and humans a favor

As a farmer, converting to Krav-certified cultivation is not only doing the animals and nature a favor – it is also a business decision. There are many opportunities for those who venture into the growing organic market to produce the food that consumers demand.

It is a challenge to achieve sustainable food production. Many of the problems are common to Krav-marked and conventional food production. We can also find joint solutions that benefit everyone. Our environment, our farmers and all of us who eat the food need it!

Anita Falkenek

VD KRAV

Anders Lunneryd

President Ekologiska Lantbrukarna

Charlotte Bladh André

VD Organic Sweden

Published in Göteborgsposten 2017-11-08