Pesticide Use and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sugar Beet, Apples, and Viticulture in Austria from 2000 to 2019

The production of synthetic pesticides is energy intensive and can emit even more greenhouse gases (GHG) per kg than the fertilizers. However, this aspect largely neglected when it comes to agriculture’s contribution GHG emissions. Using official pesticide sales data from Austria 2000 2019, we analyzed (i) trends in insecticide, fungicide, herbicide use calculated production-related emissions, (ii) share pesticide-related versus fertilizer-related emissions three agricultural crops with different intensities: sugar beets, apples, grapevines. We found that between insecticide amounts increased by 58%, fungicide 29%, decreased 29%; associated showed similar patterns. During same period, acreage under conventional arable crops, orchards, vineyards an average 19%, indicating increase management intensity. In apple production, application accounted for 51% total viticulture 37%, beets 12%. have shown due be significant, especially pesticide-intensive crops. therefore recommend these pesticide-derived should also attributed sector.