In Denmark, pesticide residues were detected in more than half of the drinking water wells in 2024, approximately half of the country's land area is sprayed each year, and both pesticide consumption and sales have increased since 2014. This is a problem, because while pesticides protect crops from weeds, insects and fungi, they also cause biodiversity loss, pollute soil, air and water, and thus threaten both ecosystems and public health. However, Denmark has taken the first steps to phase out PFAS pesticides, which are a particularly urgent problem, as they remain in the environment and pollute water resources. At the same time, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) – a breakdown product specifically derived from the use of PFAS pesticides – is increasingly being detected in the aquatic environment, underscoring the need for an EU-wide effort to eliminate both PFAS pesticides and their harmful residues.

Since 2021, pesticide sales across the EU have fortunately declined. It is crucial that this trend continues to meet the EU Framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, the Green Deal target of a 50% reduction by 2030, as well as the broader objectives of protecting biodiversity and public health.

Thursday 30 October 2025 Green Transition Denmark—in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network Europe and the Danish Nature Conservation Association—focuses on Denmark's implementation of the Directive, how pesticide reduction and protection of the aquatic environment can look in practice, what alternatives exist, and provides deeper insight into the consequences of pesticides for both public health and biodiversity.

Time: 11.30-15.30
Location: Christiansborg, Provision Hall
Registration deadline: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Host of the conference: Claus Jørgensen (SF)

The conference will be held in English.

See the conference program below, or download at the bottom of the page.

11.30-11.50 Welcome with sandwiches

11.50-12.00 Opening of the conference

• By MF Claus Jørgensen (SF) and Christian Ege Jørgensen, Senior Consultant, Green Transition Denmark

12.00-12.20 Priorities for the Danish Presidency – SUD (Framework Directive for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides), PFAS pesticides and TFA (trifluoroacetic acid)

• Lea Frimann Hansen, Head of Office in Water and Pesticides in the Ministry of the Environment

12.20-12.35 TFA in water, PFAS pesticides and SUD

• Klaus Berend, Director for Food Safety, Sustainability and Innovation, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission

12.35-12.55 Pesticides and public health

• Lisbeth E. Knudsen, Professor of Experimental Toxicology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen

12.55-13.10 TFA, PFAS pesticides – NGO demands

• Angeliki Lyssimachou, Head of Science and Policy, Pesticide Action Network Europe

13.10-13.30 Pesticides and TFA in Danish surface and groundwater

• Dorte Skræm, Head of Department, responsible for the drinking water sector, DANVA (Danish Water and Wastewater Association)

13.30-13.50 Break and networking with coffee and tea

13.50-14.10 Reducing pesticide consumption and protecting the aquatic environment in practice

• Rune Gjengedal, Operations Manager, Hverringe Gods – practicing IPM (integrated pest management)

14.10-14.30 Pesticides and biodiversity

• Beate Strandberg, Senior Researcher, Department of Ecoscience – Biodiversity, Aarhus University

14.30-15.20 Panel debate on alternative solutions for plant protection – and the need for regulation

• Lea Frimann Hansen, Head of Office in Water and Pesticides in the Ministry of the Environment
• Angeliki Lyssimachou, Head of Science and Policy, Pesticide Action Network Europe
• Rikke Lundsgaard, Senior Agricultural Policy Advisor, Danish Nature Conservation Society
• Bo Lindhardt, Director of Water and IT & Automation, Novafos
• Sybille Kyed, Head of Agricultural and Food Policy, Organic National Association
• Rune Havgaard Sørensen, Head of Secretariat, Danish Beekeepers' Association

15.20-15.30 Conclusion – end of the conference

• By MF Claus Jørgensen (SF) and Christian Ege Jørgensen, Senior Consultant, Green Transition Denmark

The conference is organized by:

Green Transition Denmark, Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) and the Danish Nature Conservation Association.

Funded with grants from Europa-Nævnet and the VELUX FOUNDATION. Responsibility for the content lies solely with the grant recipient.