Serious Health Impacts Caused by Pesticides : An exchange with testimonies from people affected and representatives of French mutual health insurance organisations as part of a European campaign.
We warmly invite you to an exchange on the following topic:
Serious Health Impacts Caused by Pesticides : An exchange with testimonies from people affected and representatives of French mutual health insurance organisations as part of a European campaign.
On Wednesday, 14 October 2026 at 6:15 p.m. at the Oekozenter Pafendall, 6, rue Vauban, Luxembourg-City.
In September 2025, the Association des Mutuelles pour la santé planétaire, which brings together more than 20 French and Belgian mutual health insurance organisations protecting 14 million people, launched an “Odyssey for Our Health” in front of the European Parliament in Brussels. Objective: In 12 countries, they aim to draw attention, through a cycling tour, to the most serious health consequences of pesticides and to secure improvements in legislation as well as in the support provided to people affected.
On 14 October 2026, they will make a stop in Luxembourg, offering an excellent opportunity to learn from their experiences and discuss with them what improvements could also be made in our country.
We are pleased to welcome 10 people affected and representatives of “Odysee” to Luxembourg and to have the opportunity to exchange with them. The representative of the health insurance funds, together with three affected individuals, will present their proposals and very personal accounts of their experiences, in the presence of the other participants affected.
This will be followed by a discussion of possible conclusions and recommendations for action in Luxembourg.
Denis Benoit
Retired farmer whose cancer has been recognised as an occupational disease due to pesticide exposure.
Daniel Bodenes
Recognised as suffering from Parkinson’s disease as an occupational disease.
José Nadan
Retired farmer whose cancer has been recognised as an occupational disease due to pesticide exposure.
In general, representatives of mutual health insurance organisations are observing a dramatic increase across Europe in diseases for which a link to pesticide use has been established. This concerns people who use pesticides themselves – farmers, beekeepers, florists, etc. – but also, in some cases, their children. In France, health problems in children resulting from their parents’ exposure to pesticides are now recognised by the FIVP (Fonds d’indemnisation des victimes des pesticides – Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund). A number of diseases caused by pesticide use are recognised as occupational diseases.
More specifically, Martin Rieussec-Fournier, President of the Association des Mutuelles pour la santé planétaire, will provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of pesticides on health, present the approach taken by the mutual health insurance organisations, and outline their demands. Among other things, they are calling for a “green prescription”, meaning financial support from the State when pregnant women or mothers purchase organic food for their children.
The aim of the evening is to present the current situation in France – the development of diseases potentially linked to pesticides – as well as the demands of the French mutual health insurance organisations and the personal testimonies of people whose illnesses have been recognised as being caused by pesticides. Together, we will discuss what lessons can be drawn from these experiences for Luxembourg.
We would be delighted if you could join us for this exchange. Another objective is to discuss what these findings and experiences could mean for Luxembourg.
The event will be held in French, with German translation.
Following the testimonies from our guests, there will be an opportunity for discussion. You are also warmly invited to join us for a drink and informal conversation after the official presentation.
Please register in advance, as this will make it easier for us to organise the event: meco@oeko.lu
You can find the invitation as a PDF in the downloads section HERE
24.09.26