Birds, collateral victims of agricultural intensification in Europe

logo The Conversation The scientific community has been sounding the alarm over the effects of pesticide use on human health and the disappearance of numerous species in agricultural environments for half a century. As early as 1962, Rachel Carson's pioneering work predicted "silent springs" caused by the decline of birds, the collateral victims of pesticides via the poisoning of environments and the disappearance of insects. At issue is an agricultural model based on ever-increasing industrialization, with massive recourse to pesticides, in order to remain internationally competitive. This model is increasingly dominant in France, where the number of farms is shrinking (-40% since 2000) and their size is growing (the average surface area has quadrupled since the 1960s). As a result, the agricultural area covered by farms with high pesticide and fertilizer use has steadily increased. As a result, only 17% of Europe's soil is pesticide-free. Since 2009, more than 300,000 hectares of often fertile farmland have disappeared under asphalt.