GEORGE NEWS - This is a shortened version of the second in a series of articles with which Avril Dawson hopes to raise public awareness regarding the prevalence of and the hazards connected with poison use on our health and in the environment. 

The EU has a Farm to Fork Strategy that envisions a quarter of farmed land to be organically farmed by 2030. Of the 550 cities in Germany that are trying to conform with the strategy, Saarbrucken has not used pesticides or herbicides for 25 years. 

There is a stark contrast in approach between municipal and farming areas which results in poison-related illness in rural and the fringes of urban areas - but that will be explained in another article.

Denmark has a nationwide ban on pesticides in public areas and has slashed their use by more than 40%.

Luxembourg has been a pioneer, banning pesticide use completely on public land. Since 2021, the government has banned glyphosate on agricultural land even though the EU banned it from 2022.

It has not been easy going for the residents of Mals in northern Italy, where a referendum to ban use of poisons in the region, which happens to be a major apple growing region, was overturned as a result of opposition from business. There are realities which must be faced by both sides, but spraying poison on food has never been a good idea. The need for an alternative way has been expressed many times.

Changing all over the world

Not only in Europe, but all over the world, a change is taking place. Civil society organisations like our own Poison-free Garden Route initiative (more about this at another time) have been exerting pressure on local authorities and governments. Mexico, in particular, has been admonished by the Human Rights Commission for its use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHP).

The Mexican agriculture department plans to ban poisons by 2024 and has urged competent authorities to develop alternatives. Kyrgyzstan is on the same path.

The small state of Sikkim in India is the first to become 100% organic by rejecting chemical fertilisers and poisons (see Food Revolution Network). Key to the decision in Sikkim was rising cancer rates, polluted rivers and infertile soils due to pesticide use.

Another state, Andhra Pradesh, will be following this lead, and so too Sri Lanka when the government solves its economic crisis. In the meantime, the government has banned the use of 36 HHPs. They received the Special Future Policy award in 2021 for their policy solutions.

What struck me while researching the topic is the need for the involvement of all stakeholders, and leadership in the transition by environmental organisations. Following the example of Brussels Environment, which is part of the Brussels regional administration, the Garden Route needs to have our local authorities on board.

The main steps to becoming pesticide-free can be as follows:

• Plan the transition
• Gather the various stakeholders together
• Communicate before you act
• Make an inventory of all sites
• Proceed one step at a time

Municipalities collaborating with private sector

A number of municipalities in both Denmark and the Netherlands are joining forces with water companies to appeal to citizens to stop using pesticides and show how to use alternative methods. A social media presence or articles in newspapers are good ways to reach the citizens who are important stakeholders.

Garden Route Environment Department

When we create a new Garden Route Environment department, specifically to oversee transition, it will guide the process of clearing, planting, management techniques, maintaining green spaces and along roadsides, and generally ensuring a healthy environment. This will protect and promote the presence of bees and wild pollinating insects in an uncontaminated environment, in turn promoting public health.

The municipality in the Belgian province of Brabant has experienced a cascade of positive developments, according to a local councillor. Every area has its own particular character, making the Garden Route plan possibly very different to that of Brabant, but there it has been found that there are more bees, less mowing and less to cart away or compost. Changing of mind-sets was the biggest hurdle.

The experience of gardeners is used in the use of plant-based fertilisers such as nettles, comfrey and many others. Each country would have its own indigenous plants which would play this role.

The overall consensus in the city of Bruges in Belgium is that there are areas that do not need weed killers as long as they are appropriately tended. Some areas need more time and labour; others can be left to grow and given a haircut once or twice a year. The general public must be informed of the plan so they have faith in the plan. My research reveals methods of non-chemical weedkillers which include reinstating the use of the hoe!

Invasive species

Another aspect is how invasive species can be dealt with where prevention is always cheaper and easier, as we have seen in the case of our black wattle and other invasive species. The city of Copenhagen has been cutting the roots of hogweed in their "fighting" rather than spraying techniques of removal. Many Danish towns use the Danish Road Directorate which drives around roads to map the invasive alien species. Participation by citizens can be encouraged on social media to join clearing initiatives, where the tools are provided, as well as meals and refreshments.

Other public spaces are cemeteries. They could be managed like nature reserves. It is being done in UK and Belgium. The Norrebro district in Copenhagen has a cemetery that has become a tourist attraction for the enjoyment of its greenspace beauty.

Other places within towns that need environmentally friendly techniques for maintenance are paving slabs and sports grounds such as bowling greens, golf clubs and athletic tracks, where the grass presents a challenge. Private golf courses could follow the lead of some who find they must allow problems of disease to be fixed by nature and autoimmunity. They can also integrate nature into their management considerations, all the while informing their customers and members so they accept the plan.

Sheep do the mowing

The Danish island of Samos received an award for replacing their use of pesticides and herbicides with use of seaweed, chicken manure and sheep that take care of the mowing! Their irrigation system is run on solar power.

Pesticide-free not a step backwards

We must realise that the pesticide-free approach is not a step backwards, and that the acquisition of new skills offers an opportunity for development. This implies organising training sessions for workers. Trade unions could become involved by supporting the good health of their members.

An organic apple and fruit juice producer in Alsace, France feels that farmers are a key link as well. The cost of pesticide use goes beyond the actual millions and billions in money once a full audit is taken on the health costs. Water pollution can be added to that. No one needs to reinvent the wheel as there are plenty of organisations providing help based on their own experience, for example PAN EU, Pesticides Action Network Europe. We must appeal to our municipalities and authorities to help manage our planet and local areas in a responsible manner.

This chart shows the share of organic farming on agricultural land in the EU.

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