Potential of crop mixtures to reduce pesticide use in France. A data analysis

Over the last 50 years, agricultural intensification has led to simplified agricultural systemshighly dependent on fertilisers and pesticides, causing biodiversity loss, changes in the balanceof nutrients, water and soil contamination. The total amount of pesticides applied each yearin France makes it the main consumer of plant protection products in Europe, and arable cropsare currently the most pesticide-consuming production systems. Reducing pesticide use inarable crops is thus a major challenge. There is now evidence that crop diversification in time,with more diversified rotations, and in space, through crop mixtures, can help restoreecosystem services and represent a potential key lev…