How do pesticides impact health and ecosystems in Europe?

Food production systems in Europe rely on chemical pesticides to maintain crop yields. However, widespread pesticide use represents a major ‘One Health’ challenge: it impacts human, animal and ecosystem health, as well as future food security in multiple and interacting ways. The farm to fork strategy and the other policy strategies under the European Green Deal identify an urgent need to reduce dependency on pesticides. A key component of the European Commission’s efforts is the proposed regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products, which is currently under discussion in the European Parliament. 

This event aims to inform the debate on the legislative proposal by summarising the latest knowledge on how pesticides impact human health and the environment and presenting possible approaches to reduce their use and risk in Europe, while safeguarding food security.

The event will be hosted by Sarah Wiener and Anja Hazekamp, members of the European Parliament. 

EEA's role in the event

The European Environment Agency will present the findings from its recent briefing “How pesticides impact health and ecosystems in Europe”. The presentation will be followed by a panel of experts who will elaborate on some of the key aspects covered by the EEA briefing, including the latest evidence on human exposure to pesticides, the hazard posed by pesticide residues in ecosystems and scenarios for a transition to pesticide-free agriculture in Europe. 

Venue: Brussels and online 

Please note that, if you plan to attend in person but do not already have your own access badge for the European Parliament, you must provide the number of an ID document during the registration and ensure that you bring the same document with you on the day of the event. These data will be deleted right after the event. 

Event highlights

• Introductory speech by Sarah Wiener, Member of the European Parliament, ENVI Rapporteur on the Regulation on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products
• Presentation 'How pesticides impact health and ecosystems in Europe' by Dario Piselli, Expert — Environment, health and well-being, European Environment Agency (EEA)
• Panel discussion and Q&A:  

• Loïc Rambaud, Santé Publique France

• Olivier Mora, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE)  

• Violette Geissen, Wageningen University

• Moderation and concluding remarks by Sarah Wiener