Investigating a changing Europe

Silent Death

Silent Death – Europe’s deep-rooted pesticide problem and a biodiversity crisis

Europe is stuck in a toxic relationship. For decades, farmers have relied on chemicals to produce the food that feeds the continent. The perils of pesticides are widely known, but their use remains largely unchecked. As a biodiversity crisis unfolds, can Europe address its silent pesticide problem?

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Latest

4 August 2022

Silent Death

“Pesticides aren’t the absolute evil”: the project where nature and agriculture coexist

Among the industrial-scale agribusiness sites of Lombardy, an EU-funded project is regenerating land and helping limit the use of chemicals.

25 July 2022

Energy Charter Treaty

ECT: “ecocide” treaty puts Member States and EU Commission at odds

Several European governments are still considering withdrawal from controversial energy pact, documents leaked to IE reveal.

22 July 2022

Silent Death

Beyond robo-bees: can technology really help halt the biodiversity crisis?

Investigate Europe drones out the noise to find out if technology does hold solutions to combat pesticides and protect ecosystems.

20 July 2022

Silent Death

How owls are flying to save Greek farmers from rodents and pesticides

Investigate Europe traveled to northern Greece to see how birds of prey could help protect both crops and biodiversity.

19 July 2022

Silent Death

Member States slam European Commission pesticide reduction ambitions

A majority of EU nations have strongly criticized the landmark proposal to slash Europe's pesticide use in half by 2030.

5 July 2022

Silent Death

Pesticides: the dark secrets of the Guadiana river

Farmers along the Portugal-Spain border say they must use chemicals for their survival. Ecologists, meanwhile, argue that the true impacts of pesticides on the river are being kept from the surface.

We, journalists from eleven European countries, are “Investigate Europe”.

We research as a multinational team. We share, merge and crosscheck facts — tackling the usual national bias. We point out responsible transnational structures and actors in issues of Europe-wide relevance to hold them accountable.

Military power

Arming the EU — The long road towards a united defence

Europe is on the way to become a military power, but so far mostly to the benefit of arms producers and with little democratic control.

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Derailed

Derailed — The desolate state of European railways

Even though the EU has declared 2021 the 'Year of Rail', Europe's railways are more a patchwork than a network. EU countries still invest significantly more money in road than rail, despite the urgent need for more climate-friendly transportation.

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Silent Death – Europe’s deep-rooted pesticide problem and a biodiversity crisis

Latest

“Pesticides aren’t the absolute evil”: the project where nature and agriculture coexist

ECT: “ecocide” treaty puts Member States and EU Commission at odds

Beyond robo-bees: can technology really help halt the biodiversity crisis?

How owls are flying to save Greek farmers from rodents and pesticides

Member States slam European Commission pesticide reduction ambitions

Pesticides: the dark secrets of the Guadiana river

The lavish secret commissions of Orpea’s intermediaries

Lipany holding: Care giant Orpea’s dirty secrets hidden in Luxembourg