The approach to pesticides of the province is taking longer. Deputy Marc Oudenhoven (Local Brabant) of Agriculture reports this to the Provincial States on Friday. The provincial administrator needs more time due to ‘the complexity of the subject’. He hopes to be able to present his plans to the Provincial States at the end of June.
With the ‘Action Plan Pesticides’, Brabant wants to be the first province in the Netherlands to reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture. “That requires a strong preparation,” Oudenhoven explained to the Provincial States on Friday. “We are in conversation with stakeholders.”
According to the deputy, there are already municipalities that themselves do something about the use of pesticides. “There are also municipalities that want that, but don’t know how. We offer our help.”
Members of the Provincial States reacted disappointed on Friday to the postponement of the action plan. “It is very unfortunate that the plan is not there yet,” said GroenLinks party chairman Jade van der Linden. She thinks that the action plan is very easily passed on. “We want the deputy to let us know at least what is now.”
The research into the possibilities for a ban on pesticides is also waiting for longer. At the end of last year, the Provincial States adopted a proposal from the SP for that investigation. According to the province, the investigation is included in the action plan.
The Agriculture Committee spoke on Friday about the future of agricultural land use in Brabant. The province is on the bar to ensure that fewer fertilizers and pesticides are used. At the moment too many of those substances end up in the water and nature.
The province therefore wants to take measures, so that farmers handle their land more sustainably. Forbidding certain pesticides is an option.