Depressing report on vitisphere.com on the increased use of pesticides (2% increase) recorded in 2008, despite the French government wishing to reduce their use – to reduce by 50% by 2018 'ideally'. France is the biggest user of pesticides in Europe and viticulture at 15% the important sector using them on 3.5% of the area on which pesticides are used. Although insecticides were marked down, fungicides and herbicides were both up.
The story is also covered on Hervé Lalau's Chroniques Vineuses
The story is also covered on Hervé Lalau's Chroniques Vineuses