Participate now in the cross-European Pesticide-CheckUp and get your hair tested for pesticides. Together we call for better protection for the health of farmers, consumers and our nature!
What is the action?
The Pesticide-CheckUp campaign is a Europe wide citizens-science action. You can engage with the topic of pesticides by getting your own hair tested for pesticide residues. An independent laboratory will conduct the analysis for 30 different pesticide residues. During the Good Food Good Farming Action days in October, we raise our voices for better pesticide policies in many decentralised events across Europe and also organise a joint-action in Brussels. More information to come soon!
How to join?
- Order the test-kit here. There are two options:
- If you pay for your own test and the analysis, the costs are 150€ (covers test-kit and analysis). You will then also recieve the individualized results of your own hair.
- You can also order a subsidized test financed by GFGF for 15€ (only covers test-kit). The laboratory then decides whether to test your hair based on the data collected and depending on our available funds.
- Snip, snap, cut off the hair! Ask a friend or family member to help you.
- Return the envelope with your hair by mail to our laboratory (shipping already included in the fees).
Why we need to be active now?
Pesticides are a serious threat to our food and farming systems. On the field, they kill pollinators like bees and reduce the quality of soils. They endanger the health of farmers and field workers. And their toxic impact doesn’t stop at the farm gate: through the food we eat, they find their way into our bodies and our close environments.
1.2 million European citizens already signed the European citizens initiative “Save Bees and Farmers”. Together we call for a drastic reduction of pesticides. While citizens, farmers and scientists and many more demand the end of pesticides, EU decision-makers hesitate to make a change. Meanwhile, the pesticide industry lobby tries hard to prevent any further regulation.
In May 2020, the EU released the Farm to Fork strategy – a declaration of intent that could play a significant role in transforming our food systems. One of the strategy’s target includes the reduction of pesticide use in the EU by 50% until 2030. However, this target is not legally binding and challenged by national governments and the agrochemical lobby. Currently, the EU revises their pesticide regulations – but these face the danger to be far less ambitious than EU citizens wish!
Now is the time to demonstrate our demands to EU decision-makers: we want their binding commitment to the pesticide reduction target and ambitious and legally binding regulations. Together we raise our voices for healthier food and farming systems that protect our biodiversity!
Read Good Food Good Farming’s 10 key facts and backgrounder for more information on pesticides use, impacts and alternatives.
