Luxembourg will become in 2020 the first country in the European Union to ban glyphosate. First step this Saturday with the withdrawal of the marketing authorization for the product. For the Minister of Agriculture of the Grand Duchy, Romain Schneider, it is by proceeding gradually that Europe will succeed in reducing the use of phytosanitary products.
From this Saturday, Luxembourg will be the first European country to withdraw the marketing authorization for glyphosate. How was this decision made?
ROMAIN SCHNEIDER. As of 2018, the discontinuation of glyphosate was included in the government program following a coalition agreement. We informed farmers and winemakers in advance that they could no longer use this product on the soil of the country from January 1, 2021. The operation is done gradually and effectively begins this Saturday with the withdrawal of the marketing authorization. It is also a logical continuation of the votes taken at European level because nine EU countries, including Belgium, France and Luxembourg, voted against glyphosate.
But why only ban glyphosate?
We have launched a national plan to reduce the use of phytosanitary products, which plans to reduce the use of the most dangerous pesticides by 30% by 2025. The problem is not to ban but to find alternatives to these products. There are mechanical means of treating vineyards or land using less chemicals, but research and innovation in this area must also be supported. And also look if there are more resistant plant species.
What you do in Luxembourg with only 2000 farmers (for 600,000 inhabitants), can we do it in France?
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The agricultural areas in France obviously have a completely different dimension than in Luxembourg where farms only average 80 hectares. But if France proceeded as we did in stages, it could do so. Moreover, within the agricultural council of Brussels, we speak today of new green deal. In short, it is Europe's desire to reduce the use of phytosanitary products as much as possible and to strengthen organic farming. In Luxembourg for example, where only 5% of farms are organic, our goal is to increase to 20% within five years by cultivating the land differently.
