Lisbon, Sept. 11, 2025 (Lusa) - Portuguese agriculture could lose up to €510 million annually due to reduced productivity and increased costs, following Brussels' decision to ban the use of certain active substances, according to a study released on Thursday.
"Portuguese agriculture could lose up to €510 million annually in income due to reduced productivity and increased production costs caused by the withdrawal of active substances essential for crop protection," concluded a study by AGRO.GES presented by CropLife - Association of the Plant Protection Science Industry.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), cited in the study, the impact corresponds to 7% of national plant production forecast for 2025.
This analysis assesses the impact of the withdrawal of 44 active substances that are candidates for replacement by the European authorities.
To this end, 20 case studies were carried out, representing eight sectors of Portuguese agriculture - vineyards for wine, olive groves for olive oil, corn, industrial tomatoes, Rocha pears, apples, rice and potatoes.
As part of the ‘From Farm to Fork’ strategy, Brussels wants to reduce the use of plant phytosanitary products (pesticides) products by 50% by 2030.
Vine cultivation stands out, with a drop of €161.8 million.
This is followed by industrial tomato cultivation (€77.1 million), olive groves (€68.4 million), corn (€63 million), potatoes (€55.7 million), apples (€38.2 million), pears (€28.7 million) and, finally, rice (€17.3 million).
The losses could amount to €425 million per year in terms of gross margin, equivalent to 10.3% of the Gross Value Added (GVA) of national agriculture.
As for exports, "the losses in the sectors under analysis may have a much greater impact [...]. Olive oil, wine, tomatoes, pears and apples would correspond to a loss of €360 million in production, weakening the processing industry and/or the export markets for these sectors".
If the active substances at risk were withdrawn, vineyards in the Douro, Trás-os-Montes, Beiras and Alentejo regions, corn, industrial tomatoes and rice in Mondego "would probably disappear" due to the decline in productivity and the increase in costs.
In turn, olive groves, pome fruits, vineyards in the Vinho Verde and Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions, potatoes and rice in Ribatejo would remain viable, "but with very significant losses, which could jeopardise their associated investments".
In view of the conclusions of this study, AGRO.GES recommends that the impacts on the remaining agricultural sectors in Portugal be analysed and that the implementation of the Brussels strategy be considered.
On the other hand, it argued that it is important to "strengthen regulatory balance" in the approval of active substances, based on solid scientific data.
In addition, it suggests fostering innovation by promoting the integration of biopesticides, digital agriculture and precision technologies, "without forgetting the indispensable role of plant protection products in the short and medium term."
CropLife (formerly Anipla) was established in 1992 and represents entities that research, develop and market solutions to improve agricultural production in a sustainable manner.
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