France: use of pesticides up by 2% in 2008

Use of weedkiller in vineyards in Saint-Georges-sur-Cher

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