The new 2025 Eurobarometer by EFSA confirms that pesticide residues are the main concern among European consumers
Monday, 6 October 2025. The recent 2025 Eurobarometer on Food Safety in the European Union, published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), reveals that 39% of Europeans consider pesticide residues in food their greatest food safety concern, followed by antibiotic and hormone residues in meat (36%) and additives in food and beverages (35%).
These findings, based on responses from over 26,000 citizens across the 27 Member States, confirm a steady trend: European society demands safer, more sustainable, and more transparent food. In this context, projects like LIFE NextFUMIGREEN play a key role by providing natural pest control solutions that reduce dependence on chemical pesticides in greenhouse horticultural crops.
Sustainable agriculture and consumer trust
The report highlights that 72% of Europeans take a personal interest in food safety, and 79% trust EU legislation that ensures food safety. Additionally, 82% trust farmers and primary producers, reinforcing the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural innovation from the ground up.
In this regard, LIFE NextFUMIGREEN, led by FumiHogar in collaboration with B&B Asesores, Comercial Química Massó, BrioAgro Tech, and the Finnova Foundation, develops natural fumigants based on plant extracts to control pests such as whiteflies and diseases like botrytis, while minimizing environmental impact and preserving beneficial insects for agricultural ecosystems.
Responding to European demands
With a total budget of €2,758,921.01, co-financed at 60% by the EU LIFE Programme, the project aims to improve food safety and biodiversity while supporting farmers’ professional development in the use of natural biopesticides.
The publication of this Eurobarometer reaffirms the importance of moving toward an agricultural model that protects human health, food quality, and the environment — all core pillars of the European Green Deal.
📖 Read the full EFSA report:
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/corporate/pub/eurobarometer25
🔗 Learn more about the LIFE NextFUMIGREEN project:
https://lifefumigreen.finnova.eu/