A new map of the areas of France most exposed to pesticides has been published by a group of environmental associations, in a bid to “inform, raise awareness and mobilise against exposure”.
The interactive platform is called ‘Tous exposés’ (Everyone is exposed). It was developed by the association Solagro, and four environmental campaign groups, Générations Futures, Secrets Toxiques, Noé, and On est Prêt, as well as organic group La Maison de la Bio, and relevant insurance companies.
The maps are colour-codedSolagro.org
The platform, which the associations describe as “reporting on chemical pesticide contamination in fields, water, food, soil and air”, is intended to enable anyone to check the level of pesticide exposure in their area, using a postcode. It has data for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
You can also click on the maps to zoom in and out, and click on a specific commune to see more information.
Another map on the platform also shows an overview of pesticide sales in a given area, while another shows farms that use organic farming practices.
The map is colour-coded, with the areas in the deepest red considered to be those most affected by pesticide exposure.
For example, in Normandy, the most-affected areas are those close to the Caen plain and the arable farming regions to the east.
The site also suggests the users send an email to Health Minister Yannick Neuder, to call for more action to reduce exposure to chemical pesticides “because it is everyone's health that is at stake, starting with our farmers”, said Magali Payen, from the On est Prêt group, to France 3.
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Overall, the group is calling on the health minister to “include a long-term commitment to non-exposure to pesticides in future national food strategies…and to put in law a target of 12% consumption of organic products by 2030”.
The groups claim that excess exposure to pesticides has been proven to cause harm to humans.
La Maison de la Bio is one of the groups calling for a low- or no-pesticide alternative, in the form of organic food.
“For 30 years, there has been a form of food production without synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilisers, called organic farming and food,” said Christophe Barnouin, to France 3. “It represents between 5% and 6% of the food market and is a simple solution for minimising our exposure to pesticides in our food.”
