The urgent need for science-based decision-making at an EU level was the central theme of a major debate on the importance of pesticides in tackling the food security threat at a key industry gathering in Barcelona on 23 September.

Hosted by the Crop Protection Association, the debate took place at the AgChem Forum on the eve of the adoption of the controversial new EU Pesticide Authorisation Regulation.

Panellists Robert Sturdy MEP, Dr Ian Denholm of Rothamsted Research and Professor Witzke of the University of Berlin all highlighted the growing threat to European food production as a result of global population growth, climate change and declining land, energy and water resources.