{"id":39958,"date":"2025-07-21T12:37:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T12:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stella-pss.eu\/?p=39958"},"modified":"2025-07-21T13:20:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T13:20:52","slug":"illegal-pesticides-early-pest-detection-matters-more-than-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stella-pss.eu\/el\/illegal-pesticides-early-pest-detection-matters-more-than-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Pesticides | Early Pest Detection Matters More Than Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Dimitra Fourkalidou | Head of Communications | reframe.food 
<\/i><\/b>& Ilias Tsaparelis | Project Manager | reframe.food<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The recent Reuters investigation on the surge in illegal pesticide use in Europe, and particularly in the Thessaly region of Greece, has shed renewed light on a troubling trend with serious implications for food safety, environmental health, and sustainable farming [1]. <\/p>\n

Farmers, facing rising costs of approved pesticides, are turning to illegal, uncertified products imported from neighboring non-EU countries such as the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye, or smuggled through EU member states like Bulgaria. These unregulated chemicals are distributed in unlabelled plastic containers and have been found to contain substances long banned in the EU due to risks to both human health and ecosystems [1]. In Greece alone, at least 25% of pesticides in use in certain regions are estimated to be illegal, while EU-wide figures exceed 14%\u2014a notable increase from 10% in 2015 [2]. This issue directly challenges the goals of the European Green Deal, particularly the Farm to Fork Strategy, which targets a 50% reduction in hazardous pesticide use by 2030 [3].<\/span><\/p>\n

WHY THIS MATTERS<\/h3>\n
The widespread use of banned pesticides threatens not only public health and food safety but also the legitimacy of EU agricultural markets\u2014especially in export-oriented sectors. These substances cause lasting harm to ecosystems, from pollinators and soil biodiversity to water systems, compromising long-term sustainability [1]. They also pose significant health risks to farmers, who are among the most exposed groups. The risk to farmers is greater than the risk to consumers, with exposure linked to liver, kidney, and lung damage, and potentially to carcinogenic effects [4].<\/div>\n

Prevention through smart pest surveillance<\/h3>\n

The STELLA Horizon Europe project was launched to promote preventive, data-driven, and sustainable approaches to plant protection. Rather than focusing on regulation enforcement, STELLA enhances the agricultural sector\u2019s capacity to reduce dependency on chemical inputs by equipping stakeholders with advanced tools for early detection, forecasting, and smart pest management.<\/span><\/p>\n

The STELLA Pest Surveillance System (PSS) employs a holistic digital framework that strengthens sustainable pest control. Its key features include:<\/span><\/p>\n