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Reuters

Europe's illegal pesticide trade surges as farmers cut costs

Reuters · New
Reuters
Reuters
New

The cost of spraying crops with pesticides is becoming increasingly expensive. So, some farmers in Greece’s agricultural heartland are turning to a cheaper alternative: liquids in unlabeled plastic bottles smuggled over land and sea.

BreakdownGenerated by LeadStory AI
  • Farmers in Greece are turning to illegal pesticides due to rising costs of legal products. 13s
  • Lab tests show smuggled pesticides contain substances banned in the EU for health and environmental risks. 1m 21s
  • Doctors in farming regions report increased respiratory diseases potentially linked to pesticide exposure. 1m 47s
  • EU data shows at least 14% of pesticides used are illegal, with higher rates in some Greek areas. 2m 30s
  • Greek authorities say combating illegal pesticide use is a priority to protect public health and support farmers. 4m 15s
Rural & AgricultureEnvironment