By Faridat Salifu
The Netherlands has reduced its use of plant protection products in agriculture by more than 22 percent since 2020, reflecting a shift toward more sustainable and environmentally conscious farming.
In 2024, farmers applied 3.9 million kilograms of pesticides across 44 major crops, down from higher levels four years ago, with usage per hectare falling from 7.1 to 5.6 kilograms.
While nearly 98 percent of agricultural land still receives plant protection products, the composition of these products is changing.
In 2024, 26 percent of all plant protection products were classified as green, including microbiologically active agents and paraffin oil, signaling a growing adoption of eco-friendly alternatives.
Use of fungicides and bactericides fell by 24 percent, partly due to the 2021 ban on mancozeb, while herbicides and defoliants dropped 15 percent, and insect and mite control products fell by 34 percent.
At the same time, farmers are increasingly using biological agents for slug control and plant growth regulation, including products permitted in organic farming.
Flower cultivation has seen the most dramatic reductions. Lily growers cut pesticide use by more than half, from 601 thousand kilograms in 2020 to 273 thousand kilograms in 2024. Fungicide use alone fell by 72 percent, as banned chemicals were replaced by safer alternatives.
In contrast, potato growers applied more pesticides to combat blight in a wet 2024 growing season, illustrating the continued role of targeted pesticide use under changing climate conditions.
Greenhouse cultivation remains the most intensive in pesticide use per hectare. Roses in greenhouses now receive 75 kilograms per hectare, nearly double 2020 levels, reflecting the incorporation of microbiological and green agents rather than traditional chemicals.
Chrysanthemums, lilies, seed potatoes, apples, and pears follow in usage intensity, while onion cultivation has seen pesticide use more than halved.
The data indicate a broad trend toward precision and eco-conscious application, with farmers reducing conventional chemicals while integrating green alternatives and adapting to climate-driven crop risks.
For over half of the 42 crops surveyed, pesticide use declined between 2020 and 2024, signaling a shift in Dutch agriculture toward sustainability and environmental stewardship.
