Dutch provincial pesticide policy
What do provincial authorities do to reduce the use of pesticides by agriculture, horticulture,and parks and gardens services? The policy in this respect has been set out in the memorandum Zicht op gezonde teelten ('View of healthy crops').
Provincial action pursuant to the memorandum Zicht op gezonde teelten| Province | Activities |
| Groningen | - optimisation of maize growing - mechanical weed control in tree growing - certification of agricultural products - fewer chemical agents in beet - ecological management of green spaces and roadsides |
| Friesland | - meetings with livestock and arable farmers |
| Drenthe | - environmentally-friendly plot edge management, environmentally-friendly maize growing, environmental benchmarking and rewards for achievements - rinsing sites -nematodes, crop arrangement plans and crop rotation - MLHD (Minimum Lethal Herbicide Dose): arable farmers adapt the quantity of herbicide they use according to the type and stage of weeds - sustainable arable farming |
| Overijssel | - "Crop Protection clean water": project for the reduction of the use of pesticides and for faster farm certification - development of a manual for municipal authorities for the non-toxic management of green spaces and surfacing work. |
| Gelderland | - crop protection projects. |
| Flevoland | - environmental benchmarking for bulb growing in the open - KPA certification project (arable farming quality project) |
| Utrecht | - sustainable forage crop production - contribution for weeding and hoeing - specimen fruit-growing companies - integrated weed control for small woody fruit plants - "tough on scab together" project for large-scale fruit production - apple aphid and apple root aphid study club |
| South Holland | - no specific projects. Provincial authority encourages projects that result in environmental improvements in horticulture under glass |
| Zeeland | - arable farming certification project - demonstration projects for mechanical weed control - formation of "Stichting MINAS en middelen meester" for the coordination and development of initiatives |
| North Brabant | - "Clean water - growers in Brabant prove it's possible": review of possibilities for groundwater-friendly cultivation methods in two highly vulnerable water protection areas, followed in 2003 by the scaling-up of this project to cover the other six areas - Brabant-wide project for encouraging integrated and possibly certificated cultivation - various 'Milieukeur' (eco-labelling) projects |
| Limburg | - no specific projects. |
| Source: IPO. | RIVM/EDC/Oct02/0404 |
Projects for reducing the use of pesticides
Many provinces are engaged in projects for reducing the use of pesticides. The current approach is characterised by a shift from an exclusive emphasis on reducing agent use to a broad business-based approach. The use of pesticides is viewed as a part of overall business operations. Issues such as mineral management and good housekeeping are also under discussion here. Certification is used to embed a responsible approach to pesticides in business operations as a whole.
Policy
Key components of the pesticide policy are use reduction, reducing emissions to the surroundings and the lowering of dependency on these agents. Prior to 2001, the policy was set out in the Multi-Year Plan for Plant Protection Products (Meerjarenplan Gewasbeschermingsmiddelen). This plan was evaluated in 2000 and replaced in 2001 by 'Zicht op gezonde teelten, gecertificeerde teelt op geïntegreerde bedrijven' ('View of healthy crops, certified cultivation at integrated farms', LNV, 2001).
Technical note
In the context of the monitoring and evaluation of government performance, the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO) questions all provincial authorities annually about their environment policy. Note on the methodology and reliability of the IPO survey.
References
- IPO (2002). Interprovinciale rapportage Milieu, Water, Landbouw en Natuur 2002. Association of Provincial Authorities, Lelystad. This report contains an extensive set of provincial data about the environment, water, nature and agriculture for the year 2001.
- LNV (2001). Zicht op gezonde teelten, gecertificeerde teelt op geïntegreerde bedrijven. Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, The Hague.
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
- monitoring government performance
- Sales of pesticides for agricultural use in the Netherlands, 1985-2002
- Agricultural use of chemical pesticides on some crops in the Netherlands, 1995-2000*
- Emissions of pesticides in the Netherlands, 1984-2000
- Pesticides in the soil in the Netherlands
- Pesticides in drinking water in the Netherlands, 1993-2001
- Pesticides: impact on the goshawk (page is not available yet)
- Pesticides: impact on sandwich tern (page is not available yet)
