IFOAM EU has published a dossier aiming at presenting the organic strategy to minimise the use of copper in organic agriculture and at presenting existing minimisation activities in a number of EU Member States.
Copper is a trace element and an essential micronutrient appearing in plant, animal and human tissue. Therefore, copper is not only used in plant protection against bacterial and fungal diseases but also as a foliar fertilizer as well as a supplement in animal nutrition.
In the 1950s amounts of 20-30 kg/ha/year, exceptionally even 80 kg and more per hectare were applied for plant protection in Europe. Although copper formulations have been used for more than 100 years, there are no reported resistances which makes it a very important tool also in conventional and integrated pest management (IPM) farming systems.
Currently copper is approved as an active substance in plant protection product (PPP) for more than 50 different diseases in viticulture, horticulture, hops, market garden and arable crops.
As a system approach to sustainable agriculture, organic farming aims to effectively manage ecological processes whilst lowering dependence on off-farm inputs. One of the main principles of organic production is the appropriate design and management of biological processes and natural resources which are internal to the agroecosystem with the aim of creating resilient agricultural systems.
The document analyzes the studies undertaken to face the problems raised by the use of copper.
Strategy for the minimisation of copper in organic farming in Europe
Source: IFOAM EU
