Current study on the effect of a restriction on fungicide use in agriculture

The active substances group of the triazoles in the resistance management of the crop farming enterprises is irreplaceable

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Farmers have to reckon with yield and profit losses

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The European Union’s agricultural trade balance is deteriorating significantly and worldwide the European Union is losing market share

The recent developments in the plant protection policy of the European Union could lead to a significant reduction of the options available for tackling fungal diseases in field crops. The active substances group of the triazoles would be particularly affected, which according to the current state of knowledge, could only be partially and restrictively replaced by other active substances. A ban on highly effective groups of substances would lead to a limited spectrum of active agents and consequently to an increase in resistance to remaining active fungicide substances.

A recent study by the Institute for Agribusiness examines the consequences resulting from a limitation of active fungicide substances using grain cultivation as an example. In this process, yield reductions in grain cultivation ranging between 5 and 25% in Germany, France and Great Britain are analyzed. For agricultural farm enterprises, these yield reductions signify a profit reduction of a maximum of 11% in France, 17% in Great Britain and 29% in Germany.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Schmitz, Director of the Institute for Agribusiness, emphasizes: "Through a ban on triazoles an annual welfare loss of up to 5.6 bill. US$ would result for the European Union and it would have to reckon with a significant deterioration of the agricultural trade balance as well as losses in the grain market share worldwide."