EPISODE 1 | SUSTAINABLE USE OF PESTICIDES1 March 2022

Get first-hand insights into the European agriculture industry!

Learn about the EU initiative on sustainable pesticides – and what’s at stake for European agriculture.

What’s the European agriculture sector’s role in the world?

Why do farmers use pesticides? Are there any alternatives to their use?

What’s the relationship between pesticides and food safety?

Can we fully switch to organic farming?

Watch our conversation with Pekka Pesonen, Secretary General of Copa Cogeca, to find the answers!

About Pekka Pesonen

Previously, he worked as State Secretary for the Finnish Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry. In addition, Mr Pesonen has extensive professional experience in lobbying at the EU level on behalf of Finnish farmers, forest owners (MTK and SLC) and agri-forestry cooperatives (Pellervo). In the 1990s, he worked in the sales and marketing department of Valio, a Finnish dairy company.

Mr Pesonen has also been a member of several high-level advisory groups concerning EU policy preparation.

He holds an MSc in Agriculture from the Helsinki University.

About Copa-Cogeca

Copa-Cogeca is the union of the two big agricultural umbrella organisations: Copa, representing European farmers, and Cogeca, representing European agri-cooperatives. It is the strongest interest group for European farmers.

Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Brussels, its activity focus is on the Common Agricultural Policy and other policy areas relevant to farmers and agri-cooperatives, such as: food safety, animal health and welfare, plant health, environment, research and innovation, trade etc.