How does pesticide reduction affect labour time and profitability? A crop production case study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: 1. CONTEXT: National and international agendas are focusing on reducing pesticides due to their detrimental effects on flora, fauna, and human health, which has led to the introduction of agri-environmental programmes aimed at reducing the risk of pesticides. Pesticide reduction in agriculture can have an impact on labour time requirements and profitability. 2. OBJECTIVE: We used winter wheat, sugar beet, and potatoes as examples to analyse the changes in working time requirements, including management tasks and profitability. 3. METHODS: For the calculations, we used five different production schemes for each crop: Proof of Ecological Performance (conventional, cross-compliance); (A) reduction of herbicides; (B) reduction of growth regulators, fungicides, and insecticides; combination of schemes (A) and (B); and organic production. The working time requirements for fieldwork and farm management work are modelled for each scheme, and the results are used to calculate the respective partial costs and benefits. 4. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Based on the model assumptions, scheme (B) appears favourable in terms of working time requirements, labour productivity, and profitability of winter wheat and sugar beet. Scheme (A) offers synergies between the same parameters for potato production. Economic analysis shows that crop production with reduced pesticide use may even experience an increase in financial viability if the yield is not severely jeopardised, and farmers can be compensated through premiums and direct payments. 5. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results can support policy-making, since the labour time requirement and profitability of pesticide-reduced crop production can affect the success of voluntary agri-environmental programmes for the reduction of the risks from pesticide use in agriculture.
Source: Agricultural Systems
Institutions: Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,820
OpenAlex ID: W4401810231