Arable
Arable production at risk from neonics ban, warn scientists
U
K crop production will be put at risk if neonico- tinoid pestcides are more widely restricted or banned com- pletely, agricultural scientists have warned. “If groups of chemistries are limited by legislation, the remain- ing groups will be more widely used, resulting in an increased risk of pests developing resist- ance to them,” warns a statement from Rothamsted Research, the world’s longest-running agricul- tural research institute. The institute’s concern fol- lows draft proposals to extend restrictions on three neonicoti- noid seed treatments used on flowering crops across other ara- ble crops too. The proposals would also make the restrictions per-
manent, rather than temporary. In the UK, the “restricted use” ban affected mainly oilseed rape crops. “It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to maintain pro- duction of many crops if neonico- tinoids are more widely restrict- ed or banned completely,” says Rothamsted. The statement also highlights how the neonicotinoid ban has cost the European oilseed rape sector €900 million a year, accord- ing to a report from the Europe- an Crop Protection Association, which represents chemicals com- panies.
The institute laments the lack of evidence for the pesticide re- strictions, drawing attention to the number of reports by vested interests from both sides of the
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debate. And it reiterates its 2014 call for “a proper science-led risk assessment” to understand the ef- fects of pesticides. It says: “It is vital that re-
search is done to study crop pro- tection in its broadest sense, com- bining conventional chemical control with better surveillance of pests, weeds and diseases, un- derstanding and mitigating for pesticide resistance and devel- oping next generation crop pro- tection.”
Rothamsted also draws atten-
tion to an analysis by the Agricul- ture and Horticulture Develop- ment Board, an independent levy board funded by farmers, grow- ers and industry, that considers how EU pesticide regulations could change in a post-Brexit UK. “The industry needs to think
ahead regarding what it wants and needs to compete effective- ly in a changing global trading environment, as well as satisfy- ing consumer preferences in a do- mestic market,” says the AHDB analysis.
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