Regional Patterns of Pesticide Consumption Determinants in the European Union

Raluca Georgiana Robu (), Ana-Maria Holobiuc, Alina Petronela Alexoaei, Valentin Cojanu and Dumitru Miron
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Raluca Georgiana Robu: Department of International Business and Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Ana-Maria Holobiuc: Department of International Business and Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Alina Petronela Alexoaei: Department of International Business and Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Dumitru Miron: Department of International Business and Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: This article contributes to the discussion about the socioeconomic factors that reinforce pesticide dependence in the European Union and hinder the transition to more sustainable agricultural practices in light of the European Union’s Green Deal objective of reducing the use of pesticides by 50% by 2030. The analysis has a two-pronged purpose: (1) to identify the determinants of pesticide consumption in the European Union by conducting a set of four seemingly unrelated regressions and (2) to emphasize the existence of regional patterns across EU countries formed by the factors that significantly impact pesticide consumption based on a cluster analysis. Per capita GDP, selling prices, population, and real income positively influence pesticide use, whereas subsidies and organic agricultural area negatively influence them. Pesticide use is most affected by GDP per capita and least affected by subsidies. Cluster analysis highlights regional differences reflected in three clusters: (1) the most recent EU member states, (2) the European countries with large population levels, and (3) the countries with the highest GDP per capita. Our findings may contribute to the EU’s capacity to generate policy changes at the member state level and can be built into recommendations to address the persistent overuse of pesticides.

Keywords: Green Deal; Farm-to-Fork; pesticides; sustainable crop production; sustainable production policies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2070-:d:1043533

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