On September 18, the French government introduced its Ecophyto 2030 strategy, aiming to provide clarity on the use of pesticides in the country. However, the new data has caused confusion among experts and the public. The government introduced a new indicator called HRI1, which shows a 47% decrease in pesticide use between the reference period (2011–2013) and 2024. Despite this apparent drop, the HRI1 for 2024 is 53, which is higher than the European Union's average of 41. This suggests that, while the indicator shows a decline, France's pesticide use remains above the EU average. Between 2023 and 2024, the HRI1 increased from 50 to 53, reflecting a rise in the use of fungicides and herbicides. The Ministry of Agriculture explained this increase as a result of unusually rainy conditions in 2024, especially during spring. These conditions rehydrated seeds in the soil and led to a surge in fungal diseases, prompting farmers to use more pesticides to protect their crops. The HRI1 indicator has been controversial among scientists, who argue that it may be misleading. It can suggest a reduction in pesticide use even when actual usage has increased, due to the way it is calculated. The government chose to adopt the HRI1 in 2024 to satisfy the demands of the FNSEA, a major agricultural union. However, the old Ecophyto indicator, known as Nodu, tells a different story. It shows a 6% increase in pesticide use between 2023 and 2024, and a 3% increase compared to the reference period, directly contradicting the HRI1's -47% reduction. The Ministry of Agriculture has acknowledged the need to refine the HRI1 and is currently discussing ways to improve the indicator across the European Union. This situation highlights the complexity of measuring pesticide use and the challenges in creating an accurate and universally accepted metric to track agricultural practices and their environmental impact.