“Aldi Sud shows that the toxic dependency on pesticides can be ceased and thus he becomes a pioneer in the sector. We appeal to the other European commercial chains to follow the example” – commented Kristiane Huxdorf, coordinator of the campaign for ecological agriculture at “Green Peace” – Germany.
The eight chemical pesticides, which Aldi Sud will gradually ban are tiametoxam (used in growing of lettuce and chicory, used for salad), hlorpirifos, klotianidin (used in growing of spices, Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower and keil), cipermetrin (leeks, cabbage and bean vegetables), deltametrin (cauliflower, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, peas, cabbage, tomatoes and lettuce), phipronil (authorized for use only in extraordinary cases on potato fields), imidakloprid (apples, peaches, apricots and lettuce) and sulfaxaflor.
In 2015 tests of “Green Peace” {1} showed a wide spread use of pesticides on the fields and in apple orchards in Europe, which ultimately find themselves in our food. {2} Observing of the minimum regulatory requirements isn’t enough, because the interactions between the various active substances in the pesticides aren’t taken into consideration.
“The chemical pesticides are part of the chain from the field to our plates”, Huxdorf says. “The supermarkets are an important part of the supply chain and they have to work on the non-chemical solutions to the problems together with the producers. The decision of a big player on the market is also a sign to our politicians. The European politicians must act now and not only to make the partial ban on 3 neonicotinoides and phipronil complete, but also to increase its range in such a way so it covers all pesticides, which threaten the bees and the other pollinators”.
More than 100 000 consumers, gardeners and farmers have already joined in the platform of “Green Peace” www.obichamhrantasi.org and support the ecological agriculture.
Notes:
[1"> “The Bitter Taste of Europe’s Apple Production and how Ecological Solutions can Bloom” a co-publishing project between Greenpeace International Science Unit and Greenpeace Netherlands.
Cotter, J; Reuter, W. (2015) “The Bitter Taste of Europe’s Apple Production. An Analysis of Pesticides in European Apple Orchards”
Cotter, J; Johnston, P.; Santillo, D.; van Bekkem, H.; van der Sterren, M. (2015) “How Ecological Solutions can Bloom. Ecological Pest Management and Alternative Control For The Most Important Diseases And Pests in Apples”
[2"> Huxdorff, C; Johnston, P; Santillo, D; (2015) “Pesticide application as routine in EU apple production” Greenpeace Germany e.V
The “Green Peace” European campaign for ecological agriculture is already giving “fruits”: Aldi Sud puts a ban on dangerous for the bees pesticides
