EU-wide analysis of environmental cost of pesticides published

4 April 2024

Photo: Elsevier

Luisa Gensch published her first PhD paper titled "Pesticide risk assessment in European agriculture: Distribution patterns, ban-substitution effects and regulatory implications" in “Environmental pollution”. Luisa is a PhD student at FNK and also a member of the International Max-Planck Research School for Earth System Modelling.

In her study, Luisa with support from Dr. Kerstin Jantke, Dr. Livia Rasche, and Prof. Uwe Schneider, conducted an assessment of pesticide-related risks to non-target organisms, human health, and the environment across Europe. The authors examined the impacts of the ban on 14 pesticides implemented between 2018 and 2023 and calculated the resulting changes in pesticide-related risks. The key findings indicate a significant reduction in pesticide-related risks due to the bans; however, the substitution of banned pesticides with others could potentially offset these risk reductions. The research not only contributes to the ongoing scientific and societal discourse on mitigating pesticide impacts but also has important implications for regulatory frameworks governing pesticide usage. While pesticide bans play a crucial role in mitigating certain risks, their study highlights the necessity of carefully considering the benefits and potential trade-offs associated with bans and substitutions.