Horticultural growers voice concern about pesticide limits tied to EU water standards

The Dutch horticultural industry fears that it will be able to grow fewer vegetables, fruits, and flowers if growers are restricted in their usage of pesticides. The Netherlands needs to have their water quality in order by 2027 to meet European rules. To do this, many places will have to reduce the high concentrations of pesticides, which mostly come from the horticultural industry.

This could have consequences for growers, the sector organizations Glastuinbouw Nederland, de Koninklijke Algemeene Vereeniging voor Bloembollencultuur (KAVB), and a plant researcher from the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) have warned.

Glastuinbouw Nederland estimates that half to three-quarters of greenhouse growers are concerned about the decline in the use of resources. For example, about how much income they will lose due to diseases and pests.

The KAVB thinks that there are no suitable alternatives to pesticides when it comes to weed control. “If there is no sustainable alternative for fungicides and insecticides, then diseases and plagues will increase, with significant consequences for the yields.”

Esmee de Graaf, a plant resilience researcher for the WUR, also noticed that there are no efficient biological alternatives for some agents. She would prefer that there is a change in the system in which as few pesticides are used as possible because her opinion is that the biological agents are not always an improvement.

Especially smaller flower and plant growers with fewer resources will struggle over the next 18 months, she thinks. “If they do not implement a change in system, then their plants will be eaten by aphids, and they will be unable to sell them,” she said at the international trade fair GreenTech, which is taking place this week at the RAI in Amsterdam.

De Graaf thinks that many large companies will find it easier to reduce their use of chemical agents. According to her, the system change differs per crop because each crop can suffer from a different disease or pest. She mentions fungal infections in lily bulb cultivation as an example.

Agricultural entrepreneurs organization LTO is also aware of the concerns from growers regarding the availability of crop protection products. “I am even willing to say all growers,” policy advisor Daniël Ende said when asked how many growers are concerned. He added that he does not think that the concerns are specifically a result of the European water rules.