KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
Neutral

In the past 30 years, consumption of plant protection products (PPPs) in Slovenia has been steadily decreasing and PPPs sales declined from 2,031 tons in 1992 to 914 tons in 2021. Due to the higher share of permanent crops, fungicides account for more than two thirds of all PPPs used in Slovenia. In 2021, the total consumption of PPPs per unit of arable land and permanent crops was 4.5 kg of active ingredient per hectare, which is the lowest amount in the last 10-year period of monitoring of PPPs consumption.


PPPs are active substances or their derivates intended for the protection of plants or their products. Active substances have a general or specific effect on harmful organisms or plants, plant parts and plant products.

The indicator shows the sales of active substances used as plant protection products (PPPs) and the consumption of PPPs per hectare of arable land (fields, gardens) and permanent crops.

The indicator does not take into account (due to the unavailability of reliable data) the use of PPPs on other non-agricultural land (e.g., railways, roadsides, lawns, golf courses and other sports fields), where plant protection measures are also implemented using PPPs. According to various estimates, this category of land in Slovenia represents more than 50,000 ha. As a result, current consumption of PPPs per hectare of cultivated land is greater than it would be if the actual areas where PPPs are used were taken into account.

 


Charts

Figure KM01-1: Wholesale of plant protection products in tons of active substances from 1992–2021
Sources:

Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Pland Protection, 2023

Show data
Fungicides and bactericides [t] Herbicides[t] Insecticides[t] Other products[t] Total[t]
1992 916 655 353 107 2031
1993 917 576 324 109 1962
1994 731 526 296 119 1672
1995 693 418 260 124 1495
1996 656 425 243 117 1444
1997 694 478 180 100 1452
1998 839 428 154 105 1526
1999 886 432 192 92 1602
2000 842.59 408.53 97.97 119.02 1468.11
2001 932.72 365.89 80.91 18.75 1398.27
2002 936.69 384.98 109.46 40.80 1471.93
2003 844.10 400.46 122.88 67.02 1434.46
2004 1114.49 291.16 99.89 25.20 1530.74
2005 968 320 97 29 1414
2006 817 322 110 32 1281
2007 689 334 106 26 1155
2008 847 296 42 32 1218
2009 794 276 69 23 1163
2010 789.32 253.78 61.84 29.43 1134.37
2011 796.62 284.86 56.96 28.70 1167.14
2012 699.76 279.63 53.07 25.90 1058.35
2013 646.14 232.03 44.30 26.30 950
2014 724 233 43 28 1028
2015 785 220 69 27 1102
2016 858 244 43 21 1166
2017 790 233 50 16 1090
2018 825.30 254.50 55.60 30.70 1166.10
2019 681.50 199.80 37.40 23 941.80
2020 716.98 215.83 41.39 19.77 993.98
2021 647.81 199.09 47.33 19.46 913.70
Figure KM01-2: Share of different plant protection products in the wholesale for 2021
Sources:

Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Pland Protection, 2023

Show data
Fungicides[kg] Herbicides[kg] Insecticides[kg] Other products[kg] Total[kg] Fungicides[%] Herbicides[%] Insecticides[%] Other products[%] Total[%]
2021 647811 199089 47333 19463 913696 70.90 21.79 5.18 2.13 100
2020 716980 215832 41390 19773 993975 72.13 21.71 4.16 1.99 100
2019 681520.97 199837.83 37383.27 23049.34 941791.41 72.36 21.22 3.97 2.45 100
2018 825340 254487 55627 30669 1166123 70.78 21.82 4.77 2.63 100
2017 789816 233335 50369 16582 1090102 72.45 21.40 4.62 1.52 100
2016 857715 244089 43334 21329 1166530 73.53 20.92 3.71 1.83 100
2015 785436 220114 69638 26927 1102115 71.27 19.97 6.32 2.44 100
2013 646136.10 232025.18 44296.33 26297.68 948755.29 68.10 24.46 4.67 2.77 100
2010 789323 253778 61840 29429 1134370 69.60 22.40 5.40 2.60 100
Figure KM01-3: Share of different fungicide groups in the wholesale for 2021
Sources:

Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Pland Protection, 2023

Show data
Inorganic fungicides based on copper compounds[kg] Other inorganic fungicides (mainly on the basis of sulfur)[kg] Fungicides based on dithiocarbamates[kg] Other fungicides[kg] Total[kg] Inorganic fungicides based on copper compounds[%] Other inorganic fungicides (mainly on the basis of sulfur)[%] Fungicides based on dithiocarbamates[%] Other fungicides[%] Total[%]
2021 38793.66 324257.33 86986.67 197773.51 647811.17 5.99 50.05 13.43 30.53 100
2019 39841 343867 108662 189151 681521 5.85 50.46 15.94 27.75 100
2017 45132 420058 135546 189080 789816 5.71 53.18 17.16 23.94 100
2015 47973 404752 142474 190237 785436 6.11 51.53 18.14 24.22 100
2013 41088.86 338373.35 121001.72 145672.17 646136.10 6.36 52.37 18.73 22.55 100
2010 51843 405201 154015 178264 789323 6.57 51.34 19.51 22.58 100
Figure KM01-4: Use of plant protection products per hectar of arable land in Slovenia from 2000–2021
Sources:

Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Pland Protection, 2023

Show data
Fungicides[kg/ha] Herbicides[kg/ha] Insecticides[kg/ha] Total[kg/ha]
2000 4.20 2.03 0.49 7.31
2001 4.60 1.81 0.40 6.90
2002 4.72 1.94 0.55 7.42
2003 4.19 1.65 0.59 6.76
2004 5.47 1.43 0.49 7.52
2005 4.75 1.57 0.48 6.94
2006 3.98 1.57 0.54 6.24
2007 3.42 1.66 0.53 5.74
2008 4.10 1.44 0.20 5.90
2009 3.95 1.37 0.34 5.78
2010 4.01 1.29 0.31 5.76
2011 4.07 1.46 0.29 5.97
2012 3.53 1.41 0.27 5.33
2013 3.21 1.15 0.22 4.71
2014 3.58 1.15 0.21 5.08
2015 3.96 1.11 0.35 5.56
2016 4.24 1.21 0.21 5.71
2017 3.91 1.15 0.25 5.39
2018 4.12 1.27 0.28 5.83
2019 3.37 0.99 0.19 4.66
2020 3.51 1.06 0.20 4.86
2021 3.18 0.98 0.23 4.48
Figure KM01-5: Use of plant protection products per hectare of arable land in individual EU member states in 2003, 2009, 2016, 2019 and 2020
Sources:

OECD, The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2023

Show data
2003[kg/ha] 2005[kg/ha] 2007[kg/ha] 2008[kg/ha] 2009[kg/ha] 2010[kg/ha] 2011[kg/ha] 2012[kg/ha] 2013[kg/ha] 2014[kg/ha] 2016[kg/ha] 2019[kg/ha] 2020[kg/ha]
Belgium 10.27 11.28 10.47 9.30 7.42 6.43 7.29 7.96 7.57 8.36 7.81 7.25 6.05
Italy 8.87 9.09 8.14 8.14 7.73 7.63 7.51 7.00 6.06 7.02 6.58 5.18 6.01
Portugal 7.64 8.55 9.86 8.87 7.40 7.49 7.66 6.76 5.37 6.90 5.61 5.39 5.23
Netherlands 6.95 8.10 9.82 9.39 8.49 8.85 10.61 10.94 10.06 9.95 10.24 8.97 9.47
SLOVENIA 6.77 6.81 5.63 5.90 5.78 5.76 5.74 5.12 4.55 4.99 5.74 4.98 4.71
France 3.82 4.02 3.99 4.06 2.54 3.13 3.18 3.29 3.44 3.88 3.67 2.82 3.36
Germany 2.50 2.44 2.70 2.86 2.48 2.61 3.63 3.78 3.62 3.82 3.92 3.74 4.04
Austria 2.34 2.30 2.44 2.96 2.47 2.58 2.42 2.50 2.18 2.38 3.11 3.48 4.00
Hungary 2.28 2.55 3.00 2.58 2.38 2.30 1.90 1.81 1.73 1.99 2.17 1.74 2.03
Denmark 1.21 1.31 1.36 1.67 1.16 1.59 2.15 2.45 1.73 0.80 1.08 1.08 1.32
Poland 0.64 1.37 1.25 1.67 1.50 1.72 1.90 1.94 1.99 2.09 2.18 2.12 2.13
Finland 0.75 0.64 0.65 0.72 0.75 0.77 1.34 1.40 1.66 1.60 2.04 1.79 2.19
Sweden 0.77 0.57 0.62 0.71 0.53 0.56 1.00 0.92 0.84 0.96 0.76 0.69 0.81
Estonia 0.58 0.67 0.77 0.93 0.69 0.80 0.73 0.90 0.90 0.93 1.13 1.18 0.90

Goals

Within an intensive, sustainable agricultural production PPPs are used for weed, disease and pest control according to need and following goals are pursued:

  • Ensuring high standards of safe and quality food;
  • Reduction of negative impacts on water, soil and air; conservation of biodiversity and conservation of the agricultural cultural landscape;
  • Significant improvement of the chemical status of groundwater and reduction of contamination with PPPs and their decomposition products in drinking water and its sources according to the Rules on Drinking Water;
  • Reducing the consumption of PPPs, introducing organic and other sustainable forms of agriculture and prevention of point and diffuse source pollution;
  • Systematic monitoring of sales and use of PPPs in order to prevent their adverse effects on humans and the environment.

Plant protection products (PPPs) are a pesticide subgroup containing active substances or their derivates that exert general or specific action on harmful organisms or plants, parts of plants or plant products. The consumption of plant protection products in Slovenia has been monitored since 1992 when a total of 2,031 tons were sold. Compared to the base year, their consumption almost halved over the next twenty years, reaching only 1,058 tons in 2012. The decraesing trend of plant protection products sales has slowed down in the last decade. The latest available data indicates that in 2021, a total of 914 tons were sold representing the lowest quantity since the start of the monitoring.

Consumption of plant protection products per unit of cultivated land (arable land, gardens, and permanent crops), have been significantly variable between years, primarily due to weather conditions. A comparison of 10-year averages between 2000-2009 and 2010-2020 showed a decrease in their consumption from 6.7 to 5.5 kg of active substance per hectare. In the last year of monitoring (2021), the consumption further decreased to 4.5 kg of active substance per hectare.

When considering the consumption per hectare of cultivated land in Slovenia, it should be taken into account that it is slightly overestimated, as the land data is not including all areas on which PPPs are used (non-agricultural land, lawns, sports fields, roads, etc.).

Consumption of PPPs per hectare of cultivated land in Slovenia is higher than in most other EU countries, but comparable to other countries with similar types of cultivated plants and agroclimatic conditions. Slovenia agriculture production is characterized by a large share of permanent crops - orchards, vineyards and hop gardens, where the consumption of plant protection products (especially fungicides) per hectare is much higher than for cereals and other field crops. Fungicides account around two thirds of all PPPs used in Slovenia in the whole analyzed period (1992–2021), with the largest share of environmentally less harmful sulfur-based inorganic fungicides.

The downward trend in the herbicide consumption is mainly due the novel products applied at a lower dose of active substance per hectare and significant changes in the cropping practice and less due to the replacement of herbicide use with non-chemical weed control methods. In the last twenty years, the area under cash crops that require more intensive use of plant protection agents (winter cereals, maize, potatoes, oilseed rape) has significantly decreased within the crop rotation. In the same period, the area sown with grass and grass-clover mixtures has increased by more than 10.000 hectares.

Consumption of insecticides, which account for less than 5% of all PPPs used, varies mainly depending on weather conditions affecting pest development.

The registration, sales and use of PPPs for the protection of consumers of agricultural products and the protection of the environment - especially water resources - are regulated by legislation, where special restrictions are imposed within a water protection areas.


Methodology

Date of data source summarization
Other sources and literature

  • Statistični urad RS, Statistični letopisi RS, 2001–2021,
  • Fitosanitarna uprava RS, Sektor za FFS in mineralna gnojila, osebna komunikacija, 2018, 
  • Eurostat, 2018: URL: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database (citirano 12.10.2018),
  • Resolucija o Nacionalnem programu varstva okolja 2005-2012 (ReNPVO) (Ur.l. RS, št. 2/06), 
  • Zakon o fitofarmacevtskih sredstvih ( ZFfS-1) (Ur.l.RS, št. 83/12),
  • Nacionalni akcijski program za doseganje trajnostne rabe fitofarmacevtskih sredstev za obdobje 2018–2022 (Vlada RS maj/2018).
  • Pravilnik o pravilni uporabi fitofarmacevtskih sredstev (Uradni list RS, št. 71/14, 28/18, 56/22 in 155/22)


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