Speaker: Marcel van der Heijden (Agroscope)

It is widely known that some pesticides have adverse effects on bees, birds, insects and even human health. However, the impact of pesticides on soil life remains largely unclear. This article presents the findings of major Swiss and European networks investigating the effects of pesticides on soil biodiversity. The presence of over 100 different pesticide residues in agricultural and natural soils across more than 40 countries was investigated, and links with a wide range of soil organisms, including fungi and bacteria, were sought.