GLOBAL 2000 Addresses Misstatements on Pesticide Usage in Austria

GLOBAL 2000, an environmental organization, has responded to recent statements made by the Association of the Plant Protection Industry (IGP) and Austria's Ministry of Agriculture regarding the use of pesticides on agricultural land. The organization clarifies that claims attributing the recent increase in pesticide-treated areas to a greater use of organic-approved substances are inaccurate and not supported by available data.

According to GLOBAL 2000, only a small fraction of Austria's pesticide-treated land--approximately 370,000 hectares--relies on substances permitted in organic farming. This represents about five percent of the total 7.5 million hectares treated with pesticides, countering suggestions that organic products are driving the overall increase. The majority of treatments involve synthetic chemical agents.

GLOBAL 2000's analysis utilized data on roughly 300 active agents, spanning from 2010 to 2024, and applied standard treatment area metrics published by Germany's Federal Environment Agency. This methodology converts raw quantities of active substances into equivalent land areas, providing a more meaningful assessment of actual pesticide application. For example, one kilogram of the synthetic agent difenoconazole can treat roughly 18 hectares of apple orchards, whereas the same amount of potassium bicarbonate--a substance permitted in organic farming--covers only 0.13 hectares. Such differences highlight the importance of considering not just the quantity of pesticides sold but the extent of land impacted.

The organization argues that focusing solely on the amounts of active substances sold, as reflected in recent industry and ministry statements, can be misleading. The true measure of agricultural impact, they contend, is the area treated and the relative toxicity of the substances involved.

GLOBAL 2000's findings indicate a marked increase in the area of land treated with pesticides in Austria, rising from 6.2 million hectares in 2010 to 7.5 million hectares in 2024. This growth is primarily due to higher usage of synthetic chemical pesticides, especially those classified as 'substitution candidates'--compounds considered hazardous and targeted by EU regulations for replacement with safer alternatives. The intensity of use for these substances has doubled over the analyzed period.

Additionally, GLOBAL 2000 reports a significant rise in the application of PFAS-based pesticides, whose breakdown product, trifluoroacetate (TFA), is known for its environmental persistence and potential to contaminate water and food supplies. The use of these substances has nearly tripled since 2010, according to the organization's evaluation of ministry data.

The analysis from GLOBAL 2000 suggests that policy discussions around pesticide regulation should be informed by comprehensive data on treated areas and substance-specific risks, rather than solely by the quantity of chemicals sold. The organization emphasizes the need for greater transparency and accuracy in reporting to support informed decision-making and to ensure that organic agricultural practices are represented fairly in public discourse.

Further details, including data breakdowns and analytical graphics, have been made available by GLOBAL 2000 for review by stakeholders and policymakers.