The report, which can be read in full on the Aarhus University website, compared the treatment index (TI, which is used to calculate pesticide use in agriculture) for winter rapeseed and winter wheat in four European countries: Denmark, France, Germany and the United Kingdom (UK). This showed that there are significant differences in pesticide use in the four countries, with usage in Denmark being much lower than in the other countries.

The UK had the highest usage for both winter rapeseed and winter wheat, and while Aarhus University reports that the reason for significant differences cannot be explained specifically, it identifies several elements that are important for high levels of pesticide use. These include:

• Serious pest infestation
• Differences in climatic conditions
• More focus on gross yield than net yield
• Lack of policy action plans that focus on reducing the use of pesticides
• More company-based advice

Read the complete article.