TEAMPEST

Theoretical Developments and Empirical Measurement of the External Costs of Pesticides

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Pesticides are defined as chemical substances protecting plants from pathogens, insects, nematodes and weeds. They are used to secure yields, improve quality of food and facilitate harvesting. However, their heavy use in agriculture resulted in pest resistance, ground, surface and water contamination as well as possible health problems on farmers/operators and consumers. Within this context, the objective of the proposed research stems from the need to provide a solid methodological framework and empirical evaluation which will assist policymakers in identifying the true impact of pesticides on agricultural production. The obtained results may well serve as a benchmark for the foundation of future EU policy schemes aiming at achieving a sustainable use of pesticides in European agriculture. In this respect, the proposed project intends to provide an accurate assessment of the external costs of agricultural pesticide use and contribute to the relevant EU policies by developing tools for designing a socially optimal tax and levy scheme aimed at the reduction of pesticide use to its socially optimal level. Specific consideration will be given to the effects of the accrued scheme and alternative policy tools on the socially optimal pesticide use, as well as on economic sustainability and social welfare. Moreover, the proposed research will identify means that can help in the promotion of more integrated pesticide management practices. The project fulfils its aims by combining traditional and well-established theoretical methodologies with the most recent advancements in economic theory, biological and technical scientific work, ultimately developing a consistent and integrated analytical framework. The validity of the employed theoretical models and policy tools will be extensively verified by applying them in selected EU countries, thereby accounting for the diversity in pesticide use among producers in different geographical locations.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded project looked at the development of a methodological framework for achieving more sustainable use of pesticides in European agriculture.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

For many years, farmers have used pesticides to protect plants from pathogens, insects, nematodes and weeds. The initial aim was to ensure a viable yield and to improve the quality of the food produced. However, excessive use of pesticides has lead to pest resistance and has had a negative impact on the environment and the health of farmers and consumers.

'Theoretical developments and empirical measurement of the external costs of pesticides' (TEAMPEST) investigated this worrying issue and aimed to provide sustainable solutions. The project team used a combination of traditional theoretical methodologies and recent advancements. They then tested the developed theoretical models and policy tools in a selection of EU countries.

A dual farm model formed the basis for assessing the impact of pesticides on agricultural yield and productivity. The assessment showed that while using pesticides was beneficial for farm production, there was an overall deceleration in yield increase due to a drop in farmer productivity. This resulted from impaired health caused by pesticide use.

The project evaluated the external costs of pesticides on consumers through choice experiments and their willingness to pay for products with different levels of pesticide residues. Labelling of products with production condition details was considered a necessary step for consumers to make their own choices.

The project also looked into reducing pesticide usage to a socially optimal level by developing various tax and levy systems, and policies. These were designed to target different types of pesticides and environmental impacts. The study revealed that no single tax or levy system can lead to a substantial reduction in pesticide use. The demand for organic products is likely to grow significantly within the EU in coming years.

The results obtained in the project were used to generate a policy framework. This may serve as a benchmark for future EU policy schemes aimed at achieving sustainable pesticide use and management. In addition, the results may guide future decisions on the level of taxation required.