Leopoldina: Experts’ discussion paper calls for sustainable plant protection

Recently, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina published the discussion paper “The Silent Spring – On the need for sustainable plant protection”, written by a group of experts including Prof Andreas Schäffer of RWTH Aachen University and Prof Juliane Filser of Bremen University among further authors.

In the paper, the scientists explain that the use of pesticides has led to a huge decrease in biodiversity, climate change as well as changes in global nutrient cycles and habitat destruction through altered land-use. The scientists call for more comprehensive approval procedures for pesticides to better control their environmental implications.

In order to read the whole discussion paper and to get further information please visit the Leopoldina website.