Project Summary

Buğday Association for Supporting Ecological Living and Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) carried out together the ‘‘No Pesticides on My Plate’’ Project supported by EU Civil Society Dialogue V Programme in 2019-2020. No Pesticides on My Plate Action Network was established during the project with more than 100 civil society organisations and civil initiatives. Wishing to sustain this cooperation, 38 civil society organisations formed the No Pesticides on My Plate Platform, focusing on food security with a wider scope. 

Thus, supported by European Union Civil Society Dialogue VI Programme and in partnership with PAN Europe, Buğday Association’s ‘‘Pesticide Free Towns Turkey’’ Project took off on 1 April 2021. 

“Pesticide Free Towns Turkey’’ aims to analyse the current situation within municipalities regarding the use of pesticides and biocidal products*, raise public awareness on the hazards of such products and to support municipalities in using ecological and environment friendly alternatives instead. 

Within the scope of the project and in consultation with the Biocidal Occupational and Environmental Health Association, a questionnaire was prepared for Turkish municipalities in order to evaluate the current situation nationwide. 47 municipalities participated in the study and its results were published in ‘‘Situation Analysis Report for Pest Management in Turkish Municipalities’’. Working on public health, environmental protection, ecological food production methods and consumer habits, Buğday Association is now taking steps to create awareness on pesticide free methods together with the municipalities, as a result of the collaboration developed in the scope of the project.

The project’s activities, which are also supported by the No Pesticides on My Plate Platform, include building a website (www.zehirsizkentler.org) with information on hazards of pesticides and biocidal products and resources for pesticide free alternatives; visiting good practices in Turkey, and publishing a guide for alternative pest management practices that targets municipalities. Furthermore, through a petition which calls for reducing pesticide and biocidal product use on local level, it is aimed to encourage the municipalities to sign a pledge to show their intentions for going pesticide-free. The comprehensive campaign will also include public awareness raising activities and discussions with stakeholders. 

Through all these activities and by making use of PAN Europe’s past experiences on European level which achieved to establish a network of municipalities for going pesticide free, we aim to support local governments’ actions.

* Biocidal products, with the active ingredient/s that they contain, immobilize, repel, neutralize or destroy so-called harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, fungi and organisms such as cockroaches, ticks, flies, mosquitoes, mice and rats by their chemical and biological effects.