Growing crops without pesticides is technically and economically feasible under certain conditions. Creating such production systems involves diversifying crop rotations, developing appropriate marketing channels, and determining the economic value of the products from these systems. These are the findings of a study in France on nine cropping systems (agronomic crops and multicrop-livestock systems) designed in conjunction with extension specialists and farmers.
This study was coordinated by INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, and involved the Purpan Engineering School, CIRAD, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development, and Iowa State University was published in Plant Disease in February 2026.
The widespread and repeated use of pesticides has major impacts on the environment (soil, water and air pollution), human health and biodiversity, and comes with a major economic cost to both society and farmers. Can the use of pesticides be stopped on arable crops without compromising yields and economic viability? The Rés0Pest experimental network, coordinated by INRAE and involving the Purpan Engineering School and CIRAD, has released its findings after 10 years of research.