In today’s (Thursday 7 March) report on insect decline and food security, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee calls for “effective and sustainable crop protection strategies to be demonstrated at a commercial scale” and for Government to begin to more strongly support the development, regulation and practical application of pesticide alternatives.
In the UK, 70% of land is farmed: it is agricultural practices that have the major influence on insect populations. Pesticides used to target pest species can have off-target effects on beneficial insects. The impact of pesticides and other chemical inputs on insect species that are not pollinators remains little understood.
The UK has made international commitments to reducing the overall risk caused by pesticides by at least half by 2030, and has made statutory targets to halt and reverse species extinctions and decline in abundance by 2042.
These targets are ambitious and welcome - but are also narrow and incomplete. Numerous species and in some cases entire groups, some of which are vital for UK food security, are excluded. The National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use, a crucial policy to address both knowledge gaps and encourage reductions in pesticide usage, has been delayed by six-years.
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Posted On: 08/03/2024