Articles
ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF THE USE OF PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS IN FLEMISH HORTICULTURE
Article number
817_20
Pages
201 – 208
Language
English
Abstract
In this research the use of pesticides is studied in different subsectors of horticulture in Flanders.
The data on the quantities of plant protection products were transformed into the quantities of active substances they contain and then extrapolated to the population.
In the same study also a number of agricultural crops were studied.
It was found that for agricultural crops the use of active substances per hectare is lower.
If the economical efficiency of pesticides is expressed as the production value that is obtained by the use of one kilogramme of active substances then a totally different image is obtained.
For every kilogramme of active substances that is used for the production of horticultural crops the production value is much higher than for agricultural crops.
Many studies use the quantities of active substances that are used.
But there is also a big difference of impact on the environment between the active substances.
To have an idea of the impact of the use of pesticides the POCER indicator was used.
The POCER or Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk, is an indicator that evaluates the risk of active substances on several environmental compartments.
This kind of indicator takes into account the real impact on the environment and is a more valuable comparator for the use of pesticides than a simple use or frequency indicator.
Using this indicator reveals that the economic efficiency per unit of indicator is much higher in glasshouse horticulture than in agriculture.
For open air crops this efficiency is lower than for the agricultural productions, except potatoes.
This means that it is better to use a risk indicator for studying the economic efficiency of productions than the kilogrammes of active substances.
The data on the quantities of plant protection products were transformed into the quantities of active substances they contain and then extrapolated to the population.
In the same study also a number of agricultural crops were studied.
It was found that for agricultural crops the use of active substances per hectare is lower.
If the economical efficiency of pesticides is expressed as the production value that is obtained by the use of one kilogramme of active substances then a totally different image is obtained.
For every kilogramme of active substances that is used for the production of horticultural crops the production value is much higher than for agricultural crops.
Many studies use the quantities of active substances that are used.
But there is also a big difference of impact on the environment between the active substances.
To have an idea of the impact of the use of pesticides the POCER indicator was used.
The POCER or Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk, is an indicator that evaluates the risk of active substances on several environmental compartments.
This kind of indicator takes into account the real impact on the environment and is a more valuable comparator for the use of pesticides than a simple use or frequency indicator.
Using this indicator reveals that the economic efficiency per unit of indicator is much higher in glasshouse horticulture than in agriculture.
For open air crops this efficiency is lower than for the agricultural productions, except potatoes.
This means that it is better to use a risk indicator for studying the economic efficiency of productions than the kilogrammes of active substances.
Authors
D. Van Lierde, A. Vandenberghe, A.M. Cools, E. De Backer, S. Vergucht
Keywords
plant protection products, horticulture, efficiency, Flanders
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