The total quantity of pesticides used in agriculture drops each year in Belgium, as new active-substances are efficient at lower doses. Yet, in terms of surface area impacted, the use of pesticide shows a continuous increase. In the Province of Luxembourg (PoL), as permanent grasslands are converted to crops, the reduction of pesticide use is a subject of matter for the provincial political authority.

Together with Yannick Agnan (ELI-E), the aim of the first pillar of this research is to quantify pesticide residue concentrations in agricultural soils in the PoL and to analyse the influence of soil characteristics and agricultural practices on these residue concentrations. With Philippe Baret (ELI-A), the second pillar of the research will focus on the study of the agricultural production systems in the PoL, and on the lock-ins, constrains and drivers of transitions towards reduced agricultural pesticide use. A series of semi-directed interviews will be conducted with farmers, pesticide resellers and advisers, researchers and other local agricultural actors (up- and down-stream in the agri-food chains). A seminar about the first pillar of the research (pesticide residues) has already been given in October. This seminar will focus on the second pillar (agricultural production systems).