Articles
Detection of pesticide residues in conventional versus organic crops and food in Poland
Article number
1427_13
Pages
101 – 108
Language
English
Abstract
Plant protection products (PPPs) are widely used in conventional agriculture to control pests and increase crop yields.
Still, their residues can remain in/on fruits, vegetables, and grains, posing a potential risk to human health when consumed.
On the other hand, organic farming prohibits synthetic pesticides and promotes natural methods of pest control.
In Poland, as in other EU countries, detecting pesticide residues in conventional and organic crops and food is a subject of research and monitoring by regulatory authorities, scientific institutions, and private laboratories.
Data presented in this study comes mainly from the Food Safety Laboratory in the National Institute of Horticultural Research (FSL), as this laboratory participates in official monitoring and, at the same time, analyzes samples from the private sector.
Monitoring on the correct use of PPPs by Polish farmers in their conventional crops, carried out for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in 2023, shows that out of a total of 1,300 samples tested, no residues of PPPs were found in 510 samples, i.e. 39.2% of the total analyzed.
In 755 samples, i.e., 58.1%, residues below the maximum residue level (MRL) were detected; among them – 167 samples contained residues of incorrect pesticides, i.e., not registered by MARD for the tested crops.
MRL violations specified in EU regulations were found in 35 cases (2.7% of the total samples). At the same time, in 202 samples sent for analysis by certification bodies in organic farming, residues were detected in 33 cases (16.3%). These were most often detections of single pesticides occurring at low levels.
On the other hand, organic samples sent by companies verifying food products before sale showed that approximately 30% of the nearly 350 samples analyzed by FSL in 2023 contained pesticide residues.
Still, their residues can remain in/on fruits, vegetables, and grains, posing a potential risk to human health when consumed.
On the other hand, organic farming prohibits synthetic pesticides and promotes natural methods of pest control.
In Poland, as in other EU countries, detecting pesticide residues in conventional and organic crops and food is a subject of research and monitoring by regulatory authorities, scientific institutions, and private laboratories.
Data presented in this study comes mainly from the Food Safety Laboratory in the National Institute of Horticultural Research (FSL), as this laboratory participates in official monitoring and, at the same time, analyzes samples from the private sector.
Monitoring on the correct use of PPPs by Polish farmers in their conventional crops, carried out for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in 2023, shows that out of a total of 1,300 samples tested, no residues of PPPs were found in 510 samples, i.e. 39.2% of the total analyzed.
In 755 samples, i.e., 58.1%, residues below the maximum residue level (MRL) were detected; among them – 167 samples contained residues of incorrect pesticides, i.e., not registered by MARD for the tested crops.
MRL violations specified in EU regulations were found in 35 cases (2.7% of the total samples). At the same time, in 202 samples sent for analysis by certification bodies in organic farming, residues were detected in 33 cases (16.3%). These were most often detections of single pesticides occurring at low levels.
On the other hand, organic samples sent by companies verifying food products before sale showed that approximately 30% of the nearly 350 samples analyzed by FSL in 2023 contained pesticide residues.
Publication
Authors
A. Miszczak, J. Szymczak, J. Kicińska
Keywords
pesticide residues, organic farming, conventional agriculture, crops, food
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