Vers des approches respectueuses de la santé humaine et des écosystèmes dans les pratiques agricoles.

The February 6, 2025 roundtable at ONIRIS in Nantes, co-organized by Carrefours de l'Innovation INRAE and ECOPHYTO recherche & innovation, took up and extended the presentation of the effects of plant protection products (PPPs) on human health and ecosystems. PPPs, designed to target pests and diseases, also affect non-target organisms, causing human illnesses (cancers, neurological and respiratory diseases) and ecological imbalances. Solid research, including an INSERM report, has established the degree of reliability of the links between exposure to PPPs and various pathologies, especially among agricultural workers, but also among children exposed in utero. On the environmental front, an INRAE-Ifremer study reveals widespread contamination, with a serious impact on biodiversity (bees, birds, invertebrates) and even the marine environment. The concept of “symbiotoxicity” underlines the disruption of organisms' microbiomes, accentuating their vulnerability. Research is still lacking data on PPP degradation products and their combined effects (cocktail effects). Training programs such as the ‘One Health’ Master's degree aim to train professionals capable of tackling these issues in a systemic way. Since 2020, a compensation fund has been supporting PPP victims, including children exposed before birth. Specialized pediatric consultations are emerging to provide better support for families. All this work unequivocally calls for a rapid and widespread agro-ecological transition, leading to far-reaching changes in farming practices, although at present the choice seems to be more towards a gradual approach and pragmatic actions that can be carried out without upsetting the foundations of the current choice of agriculture.