In 2020, the European Commission announced two non-legally binding pesticide reduction targets: a 50% reduction in the use and risk of chemical pesticides, and a 50% reduction in the use of more hazardous pesticides (the so-called “candidates for substitution”). According to the most recent annual progress report published by the Commission, the first of these targets has already been achieved.  

Specifically, with respect to the baseline period of 2015-2017, the new data show that by 2023 there had been a 58% decrease in the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides. For the most hazardous pesticides, a 27% decrease was achieved by 2023, with the trend line suggesting that the EU is on track to reach the 50% target by 2030.  

Alongside the EU-wide figures, the Commission also published progress updates on each member state. 

This article originally appeared on inc.nutfruit.org.