Glyphosate ban will have economic impacts on European agriculture but effects are heterogenous and uncertain

Abstract

Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in Europe. However, due to its potential effects on human health, its renewal is currently under discussion in European policy. Here, we synthesize the existing evidence on potential farm-level economic impacts of a potential glyphosate ban in European agriculture using a literature review. We identified 19 studies published until 2022. We find that where glyphosate is currently used (30% and 50% of the acreage with annual and perennial tree crops respectively), such a ban can have large economic impacts. However, the range of impacts reported in the literature is substantial. Economic losses arising from a glyphosate ban estimated in peer reviewed studies range from 3 Euro/hectare in silage maize to up to 553 Euro/hectare in grapevine production. While potential losses are largest, in absolute terms (in Euro/hectare), for high-value perennial crops such as fruits and grapevines losses are similar in perennial and arable crops if expressed in relative terms (i.e. in % of per hectare profits). We currently lack assessments of economic implications of a glyphosate ban for most countries and farming systems. Thus, the overall economic implications at the European level are largely unknown.

Adding mirror clauses within the European Green Deal: Hype or hope?

“…Were the use of glyphosate to be restricted or banned, farmers would need to look at alternative ways of controlling weeds either using less effective herbicides or mechanical methods. Several reviews of the literature indicate that a ban on the use of glyphosate would have large economic effects for EU farmers (Finger et al, 2023;Wynn & Webb, 2022). Wynn and Webb focus on three crops-wheat, potatoes, and grapes-for which multiple studies across EU countries were conducted.…”

Current and future glyphosate use in European agriculture

“…Although European use of glyphosate only accounts for 4% of the global sales, it is nonetheless a very important herbicide in Europe and a complete ban on the use of glyphosate is expected to have significant impact on weed management and the profitability of current European agricultural systems. Several studies have been conducted in recent years assessing the economic implications of a glyphosate ban at crop or farm level and these were reviewed by Finger et al (2023). Estimated losses have ranged from 1 to 2 EUR ha À1 in silage maize (Zea mays L.) (Böcker et al, 2018) to 553 EUR ha À1 in grapevine (Jacquet et al, 2021).…”