In two-thirds of the 42 crops surveyed in The Netherlands in 2020, seed potato cultivation involved nearly 1,100 tons, i.e. 27% more than in 2016.

The total quantity of crop protection products used to protect table potatoes, seed potatoes, and starch potatoes amounted to 2,200 tons. This is equivalent to nearly 44% of all crop protection products used in agriculture in 2020.

“Paraffin oil is commonly used as an insecticide during the cultivation of […] seed potatoes,” according to new research conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) into pesticide use.

Pesticide Use per Hectare Declining

Based on the same CBS experts’ report, relatively large quantities of crop protection products were applied in the cultivation of seed potatoes: between 20 and 35 kg of active substance per hectare under crop protection. Among other crops, the intensity is less than 15 kg per hectare.

Pesticide application per area declined for most crops between 2016 and 2020. Exceptions included seed potatoes (up by nearly 20%).

Fewer Pesticides Used in Agriculture

In 2020, Dutch farmers used 5,000 tons of crop protection products, representing a decrease of more than 11% in 2016. The quantity used per hectare decreased by 13.4% as of 2016, while the cultivation area treated with such products increased by nearly 15,000 hectares. Unlike in previous years, more pesticides were used for the control of insects than for weed control.

Crop protection products are products that are used in agriculture to prevent or control harmful diseases, pests, or weeds among crops. They include agents based on chemically active substances as well as agents based on microbiologically active substances (viruses, bacteria).

Furthermore, a selection of products such as paraffin oil has been classified under green crop protection. In 2020, the share of green crop protection stood at 25%. CBS surveys agricultural holdings every four years to find out the level of pesticide use per crop (for altogether 42 crops).