Currently, only one supermarket chain in Cyprus carries out its own strict pesticide residue testing programme on the products it offers to consumers, maintains a transparent policy by publishing the results of these analyses, and does so without being required by law. Within this framework, it informs producers that it will not accept products exceeding specific pesticide limits.
At the same time, other companies do not operate their own policy. Like the Health Ministry’s Health Services, they conduct periodic checks and take action if excessive residues are detected.
Those attending last Thursday’s conference in Nicosia were informed of the above by Associate Professor Menelaos Stavrinides of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science at the Cyprus University of Technology. The conference was jointly organised by the International Institute for Environmental and Public Health of the university and Pesticide Action Network Europe.
He stressed that the adoption of a strict and transparent policy by companies could serve as a significant incentive to reduce pesticide use by Cypriot farmers, who in recent years — according to Eurostat surveys — have held an unenviable lead in a practice that harms human health and the environment.
Since 2022, Cyprus has ranked among the leading EU member states in pesticide sales, at approximately 9 kilograms per hectare. In recent years, studies have also placed Cyprus among the top European countries for the percentage of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables exceeding the maximum residue level (MRL), with around 10% of products containing residues above permitted limits.
Bypassing agronomists
A second pillar for sustainable agriculture is accountability in pesticide use. Speaking to “P”, Dr Stavrinides said that the prevailing model in Cyprus today allows the average farmer to purchase pesticides directly from points of sale without the mediation of a licensed agronomist, who could advise whether their use is truly necessary, at what dosage, and whether sustainable alternatives exist.
He stressed the need for transparent, responsible and documented prescription by licensed agronomists. At the same time, he described as a serious gap the absence of a national pesticide use registry at farm level linked to points of sale.
“The written prescription of pesticides would enable effective control of sales, significantly reducing unnecessary applications, which primarily harm farmers financially and additionally have negative effects on the environment and public health,” he noted.
An entrenched culture
For his part, Professor Constantinos Makris of the International Institute for Environmental and Public Health at the Cyprus University of Technology told “P” that pesticide use in Cyprus constitutes an entrenched culture cultivated within the farming community over decades.
“It is very difficult to change this culture, especially when farmers have learned to operate this way. With all the pressure created by various cutbacks, if you also speak to them about pesticide issues, they will react. Therefore, the state must adopt a strategic and gradual transition so that farmers move to integrated farming systems, as promoted by the EU,” he said.
According to Dr Makris, this does not mean pesticides will cease to be used, but that their use should be sparing and careful. “At the same time, the state must help secure some income for farmers, as there may initially be financial losses due to reduced production,” he added.
Forms of cancer
Dr Stavrinides explained that plant protection products are chemical substances used to protect crops from insects, fungi and other organisms. Their use since the 1940s has led to a dramatic increase in production.
“Unfortunately, however, their use causes very serious impacts on the environment and human health, as exposure has been linked to neurological diseases, various forms of cancer, and reduced IQ in children. Although agricultural workers experience the highest exposure to these chemicals, pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables constitute a significant exposure pathway for all consumers,” he said.
Farmer education
As a third avenue for addressing the problem, Dr Stavrinides presented at the conference the issue of educating Cypriot farmers — in organic farming, regenerative agriculture and precision agriculture through smart technologies.
With regard to organic farming, the outlook is positive, as its uptake in Cyprus has grown year by year. He cited European research showing that while organic farming on the island stood at around 3% in 2012, it reached approximately 9% in 2023.
At the same time, “beneficial” insects and smart technologies — such as satellites, robots, smart traps and smart sprayers — can be utilised.
Another key pillar highlighted at the conference was public awareness on pesticide issues and consumer demand for products whose pesticide residues do not exceed legal limits.
Incorrect practises
According to Dr Stavrinides, the presence of pesticide residues above permitted limits is due to incorrect practices such as:
a) violation of the safety interval — the required time between the last spraying and harvest as stated on the pesticide label;
b) spraying at a higher dose than indicated on the label; and
c) spraying with a pesticide not approved for use on the specific crop.
“Taking corrective measures is imperative. For this reason, one of the main objectives of the EU’s ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy is to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030. Undoubtedly, this goal is ambitious but not unattainable,” he concluded.
Mercosur a ‘Trojan Horse’ and simpler rules?
At present, two policies promoted by the European Commission are, according to critics, linked to a “loosening” of the EU’s previously strict framework banning harmful pesticides. Scientists and environmental organisations openly describe them as a “Trojan Horse” in the name of economic gain.
The first concerns the trade agreement between the EU and the countries of Mercosur. The second relates to a package of measures proposed by the European Commission to simplify food and feed legislation, which would abolish the requirement for periodic renewal of most pesticide approvals in the EU, so that they are reviewed only when justified by scientific reasons.
Brussels states that the reform could save approximately €1 billion in compliance costs — including €428 million for businesses and €661 million for public administrations — and contribute to greater competitiveness of the European agricultural sector.
On the other hand, environmental organisations strongly oppose the proposals, warning of a “decades-long rollback” in food safety and environmental protection.
Threats against scientists
Regarding the Mercosur agreement, concerns are raised about the import of harmful products from Latin America. The argument, also adopted by Cypriot farmers’ organisations, is based on the use of pesticides currently banned in the EU as harmful to human health and the environment.
“Banned pesticides are cheaper than European ones and more effective at eliminating crop pests. But at the same time they are extremely dangerous to human health,” Dr Makris said.
He also relayed information from Latin American colleagues in his capacity as coordinator of the Special Interest Group on Pesticides and Health under the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. Scientists in countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica are studying the health impacts of these harmful pesticides amid strong protests against what is described as “chemical colonialism”.
As Dr Makris explained, European countries produce these banned pesticides — which cannot be sold within Europe — and export them to those countries.
He recounted the testimony of a colleague, a professor in São Paulo, Brazil, whose associate received serious death threats after conducting such research and was ultimately forced to migrate to Europe. She now lives in France.
This article was originally published on the Greek-language Politis website.