Outdoor lettuce cultivation is under pressure, as more growers are dropping out. "If there's no adequate pesticide by March, I'll stop," lettuce grower Wim Van Bulck told VILT in response to the recent ban on the use of Movento. The pesticide had helped growers combat aphids, a major pest.
Many other crops, such as cabbage and pears, are also affected. The Farmers' Union has therefore written an urgent letter to federal minister Clarinval, calling for an emergency authorisation. VILT spoke with growers Wim, Jens Van Den Eynde, and Ortwin Ceulemans. Jens and Ortwin are not yet considering quitting but acknowledge the severity of the problem.
At the auctions, hopes rest on an emergency approval. "We're hoping for a positive response from Clarinval. Otherwise, we may have to start discussions with customers about zero tolerance for aphids. Consumers may need to accept that they'll occasionally find aphids in their lettuce," says Rik Decadt of REO in Roeselare.
BelOrta is also concerned about what lies ahead. "The number of rejections due to aphids has risen sharply this autumn. Growers point to the limited range of available products as the cause. We're holding our breath for next year," says Isabelle De Blaise, quality manager at BelOrta.
In the Netherlands, the entire supply chain recently met to discuss the crisis situation. There is no immediate solution to the aphid problem. The possibility of an 'exemption for Movento' was also discussed, although there is uncertainty about whether that will happen. The general trend remains that the sector, not just lettuce growers, must make do with fewer and fewer chemical crop protection options.
Source: VILT