Pesticides may protect crops, but they also drive biodiversity loss, pollute soil, air, and water, and threaten both ecosystems and public health. In Denmark, residues have been detected in more than half of groundwater wells, roughly half of the land area is sprayed each year, and both pesticide consumption and sales have increased since 2014.
An especially urgent concern is PFAS pesticides that persist in the environment and contaminate water resources. Denmark has already taken national steps to phase out these substances, setting a strong precedent for the EU to follow. At the same time, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) — a breakdown product specifically arising from PFAS pesticide use — is increasingly detected in waters, highlighting the need for EU-wide action to eliminate both PFAS pesticides and their harmful residues.
Since 2021, pesticide sales in the EU have been declining. This trend must continue to meet the EU Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, the Green Deal’s 50% reduction target, and the broader goal of protecting biodiversity and health.
Join us as Green Transition Denmark, in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network Europe and the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, shines a light on Denmark’s implementation of the Directive, what pesticide reduction and water environment protection look like in practice, which alternatives exist, and gain deeper insights into the effects of pesticides on both public health and biodiversity.
Date and time: Thursday 30 October 2025 from 11:30 to 15:30 CET
Place: Proviantsalen, Christiansborg or online via Zoom
Registration deadline: Wednesday 29 October 2025 at 10.00 CET
Questions:
- About the conference, contact: Lærke Kjærbye-Thygesen, laerke@rgo.dk
- About registration, contact: Martin Benny Pedersen, martin@rgo.dk
NB: Arrive in good time, as all participants must go through a security check. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. If the maximum number of participants is exceeded, a waiting list will be created. If you are no longer able to attend, please make sure to cancel your registration in due time.
