The value of Neonicotinoid seed treatment in the European Union

According to a recent report “The value of Neonicotinoid seed treatment in the European Union: A socio-economic, technological and environmental review” published by Humboldt Forum for Food and Agriculture (HFFA), the socio-economic, technological, and environmental value contribution of Neonicotinoid seed treatment (NNi) is extremely significant. It can be stated that a potential ban or suspension of NNi technology would have tremendous economic implications in the short-term as well as in the mid-term. To take few examples: over a five-year period, the EU could lose 17 billion EUR and more; 50,000 jobs could get lost economy-wide; and more than a million people engaged in arable production and their livelihoods would certainly suffer if NNi were lost.

In addition, if NNi were no longer available in the EU, there would be a significant reduction of food production considerably altering the agricultural trade balance. Moreover, any reduction in agricultural productivity in the EU would need to be compensated by making new arable land available outside of the EU. In the case of a ban or suspension of NNi, the EU’s virtual land import of almost 30 million hectares would increase by at least additional ten per cent of arable land outside the EU territory. The environmental cost of converting this land for arable use would be substantial: around 600 million tons of additional CO 2 emissions would occur, which are equivalent to up to 15 billion EUR in emission certificate value.

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