ABSTRACT
Farming systems in the Scandinavian countries, as well as in all Western developed countries, are principally based on achievements made in the areas of plant breeding, fertilization, pesticide development, and technique/mechanization. The market-oriented farming strategy of Nordic countries has been increasingly criticized by various segments of society. The critics have mainly focused on the lack of respect for nonrenewable natural resources and the potentially polluting effects of the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. The Swedish parliament set a goal to decrease the health and environmental risks associated with pesticide use. In 1989, the Danish parliament passed a resolution designed to reduce pesticide use, and an action program was started. The Plant Protection Group Project was started in 1989 with the aim of developing a comprehensive advisory service that could help Danish farmers reduce pesticide use without sacrificing profitability. No reduction in the use of pesticides is considered necessary in Finland.
