Plant protection

Pestizide, Biozide, Pflanzenschutzmittel
Plant protection

Pestizide, Biozide, Pflanzenschutzmittel

Pestizid ist jede Substanz oder Stoffmischung aus chemischen oder biologischen Inhaltsstoffen, die dazu bestimmt ist, Schädlinge abzuwehren, zu bekämpfen oder das Pflanzenwachstum zu regulieren.

Content in German

Key answers at a glance
Plant protection

Key answers at a glance

Plant protection products and biocides have proven their worth. They not only enable regional food production, but also limit food loss and food waste. Here are ten questions and answers on pesticides and plant protection products.

Pflanzen brauchen Schutz. Denn auch sie können krank werden. Im Dossier Pflanzenschutz finden Sie alle Fakten zum Thema.

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False study on crop protection poisoning influences political decisions
Plant protection

False study on crop protection poisoning influences political decisions

In recent years, the alarming news has been making the rounds that 385 million people suffer from crop protection poisoning every year. The claim comes from a study by critics of pesticides. It has been taken up and spread by numerous media and government institutions. The problem: the number is wrong. The study does not even allow for the conclusion, which is why the scientific publisher in question has since withdrawn the study. Nevertheless, it has influenced politics and continues to be cited frequently.

Class action lawsuit over pesticide ban
Plant protection Media

Class action lawsuit over pesticide ban

A proven seed dressing may no longer be used due to a decision of the European Court of Justice. As a result, the pumpkin harvest in Styria, Austria, has been almost completely destroyed.

Is the industry exporting banned pesticides?
Plant protection

Is the industry exporting banned pesticides?

The media is full of stories about Swiss producers of plant protection products exporting pesticides that are banned in Switzerland. Weak regulations in importing countries would be deliberately exploited. However, this does not correspond to the facts. When exporting plant protection products, Swiss manufacturers adhere to strict international standards. In addition, there are certain products for which an approval in Switzerland does not make sense.

Because plants need protection from pests and diseases
Plant protection Knowledge

Because plants need protection from pests and diseases

The health of our crops cannot be taken for granted. On the contrary: in our mobile world, pests and plant diseases are spreading like wildfire. Climate change acts as an accelerant. When pests migrate and new plant diseases establish themselves in our latitudes, they can become a threat to native species. The International Plant Health Day on 12 May is a reminder of this. And the day shows: to ensure plant health in the future, research and innovation are needed above all.

Pesticide cuts
Plant protection Media

Pesticide cuts

In Switzerland, a growing number of pesticides are being banned by the authorities. At the same time, there are almost no new ones entering the market. The regulatory authorities are severely overstretched. Things cannot go on like this. Every product that disappears from the market increases the risk of pests developing resistance and of crops failing.

Glyphosate offers many advantages
Plant protection Knowledge

Glyphosate offers many advantages

Glyphosate is the best-studied herbicide in the world. It is mainly used in agriculture to help farmers efficiently and cost-effectively remove unwanted vegetation from fields before sowing.

«Biologicals» – biologically active substances from research
Research Plant protection

«Biologicals» – biologically active substances from research

Modern crop protection products must be safe, targeted and short-lived – i.e. degraded shortly after reaching their target – without leaving behind biologically active degradation products.

Content in German

Dramatic drop in approved pesticides
Plant protection Media

Dramatic drop in approved pesticides

Fewer and fewer pesticides are available to Swiss farmers. Many active ingredients are disappearing from the market. At the same time, the Swiss authorities are approving very few new ones. The Swiss farmers' association warns against new measures. Otherwise, a decline in domestic food production may ensue.

700 Pesticides Await Regulatory Approval
Plant protection Media

700 Pesticides Await Regulatory Approval

In Switzerland, a significant backlog of pesticides is pending approval from regulatory authorities, who are struggling to keep pace with the demand. This delay has serious implications for both the agricultural sector and environmental sustainability.

Approval backlog due to environmental organizations
Plant protection Media

Approval backlog due to environmental organizations

Swiss farmers are less and less able to protect their crops against pests and fungal diseases. This is reported by the "Nebelspalter". The number of approved crop protection active ingredients has decreased drastically since 2005.

Content in German

Five myths about pesticides
Plant protection Media

Five myths about pesticides

The Austrian "Kronen Zeitung" clears up five myths about the use of pesticides in agriculture. With regard to toxicity, what the doctor Paracelsus knew still applies today: The dose makes the poison.

Less crop protection in 2020, probably more in 2021
Plant protection Knowledge

Less crop protection in 2020, probably more in 2021

The federal figures for the volume of plant protection products sold in 2020 offer a contradictory picture: total sales figures for plant protection products have continued to decline. In 2020, 1930 tonnes of plant protection products were sold in Switzerland in total. There was an increase in the sale of plant protection products permitted for use in organic farming. This also includes substances that pose a considerable risk.

Safe Use of Highly Effective Pesticides
Plant protection Knowledge

Safe Use of Highly Effective Pesticides

If Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP), as they are known, are handled and used correctly, they are safe. In many countries, indeed, they are the only solution for saving lives,

«Pesticides are a technology that support civilization»
Plant protection Knowledge

«Pesticides are a technology that support civilization»

Synthetic pesticides enabled the transition at the end of the 19th century from an era of periodic famines to an age of food security. For this reason, it is clear to the University of Göttingen’s Professor Andreas von Tiedemann that pesticides are a cornerstone of modern society.

Synthetic has many benefits
Plant protection Knowledge

Synthetic has many benefits

Synthetic pesticides are often automatically viewed as problematic compared with natural pesticides. But this is a misconception. It is not possible to make any general statements about toxicity based on the production method alone.

Dramatic drop in yields without crop protection
Plant protection Knowledge

Dramatic drop in yields without crop protection

Food security is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. The world's population is growing and the growing conditions for agriculture are deteriorating due to climate change.

Synthetic corp protection products
Plant protection Knowledge

Synthetic corp protection products

All corp protection products that are produced by synthesis are also synthetic. Synthesis is the process by which a compound is produced from elements or a compounded new substance is produced from simply constructed compounds. Active substances that are produced synthetically can, however, be identical to nature in their effect.