France reports pesticide reduction amid debate over usage indicators

Efforts to reduce pesticide use in France are facing scrutiny and complex local challenges. Under the Ecophyto Plan, the French government reports a 47% decrease in the use of phytosanitary products based on the HRI1 European risk indicator compared to the 2011-2013 reference period. However, environmental NGOs argue this decline is misleading, noting that the Nodu indicator shows a 13% increase in usage in 2024 compared to 2009.

In Martinique, the ECOPHYTO PUMAT project, led by CIRAD and INRAE, has identified that technical solutions alone cannot facilitate the transition to agroecology. Research involving over 400 farms and 500 consumers suggests that reducing pesticides must be balanced with economic viability for producers and price accessibility for consumers. Currently, local fruit and vegetable production covers only 40% of Martinique's needs, while 90% of consumed calories are imported.