UEBT strategy

Principle 2 of UEBT standard fosters cultivation and wild collection practices that advance sustainable use of biodiversity. It encourages cultivation and wild collection practices that promote natural and regenerative processes. Among other, Principle 2 includes practices to prevent and mitigate the negative impact of the use of agrochemicals.

UEBT prohibited and risk mitigation pesticides

As part of this UEBT has defined the UEBT lists of agrochemicals that are prohibited or to which risk mitigation measures apply. The use of agrochemicals listed as prohibited or obsolete is not allowed for certified, prioritised and verified natural raw materials (§2.4.1). The use of agrochemicals listed as risk mitigation agrochemicals is allowed if risk mitigation measures are followed to protect people and the environment (§2.4.2).

Pesticides use reduction through pest management

UEBT standard requires to reduce the use of pesticides through the definition and implementation of IPM strategies that build on (§2.4.3 – 2.4.4):

1. Prevention through, among other:

• Use of certified or trusted planting material
• Planting beds sanitation
• Regular cleaning of equipment

2. Use of alternative to chemical control through, among other:

• Creation or maintenance of ecological infrastructures, flowering strips or field margins, set aside areas and similar that function as reservoir for pest antagonists (e.g. natural enemies)
• Alternation or mix of different species and plant varieties to disrupt pest cycles
• Preference for the use of physical and other non-synthetic methods and substances (e.g. neem and other natural extracts) for pest control

3. Monitoring of, among other:

• Pest occurrence
• Relevant conditions in the field

Chemical control

Synthetic pesticides – not banned neither in the risk mitigation list – are used only if all alternatives have been considered and the reasons for application persist. When synthetic pesticides are used, practices are adopted to ensure they are managed responsibly, by among other (§2.4.4, 2.4.5, 2.4.8, 2.4.9):

• Preferring low-toxicity substances
• Using pesticides sold by authorized vendors, in original and sealed packaging
• Rotating application to reduce resistance (e.g. alternating chemical family)
• Documenting application
• Appication done only in the impacted areas (spot application), when needed (no calendar application) following threshold levels and application intervals
• Creation of buffer zones and other precaution to limit cross contamination
• Regular calibration and maintenance of equipment for application
• Storage, cleaning and disposal of agrochemicals ensuring no contamination of soil, water, air and other natural resources
• Training of actors in charge with the application and handling of agrochemicals

Requirements for the use of agrochemicals are specified under criterion 2.4 of the UEBT standard and the full list of banned and risk mitigation agrochemicals is included in the UEBT lists of agrochemicals that are prohibited or to which risk mitigation measures apply.