Sugar beet farmers in the UK have been granted emergency authorization to use neonicotinoids, a pesticide known to be harmful to bees. The decision, made in response to a forecast predicting a virus threat to crops, has sparked controversy, with environmentalists and campaigners criticizing the move.
Background: Neonicotinoids and Bee Impact
Neonicotinoids are pesticides that have been linked to harmful effects on pollinating bees, disrupting their navigation and reproductive abilities. Despite being banned due to these concerns, the emergency authorization allows their use in response to the threat of a virus affecting sugar beet crops.
The Virus Threat and Emergency Authorization
The decision to grant emergency authorization was based on an independent scientific verification of the virus yellows threat level, conducted by Rothamsted Research. The predicted infection rate was reported to be historically high, reaching 83% of the crop. The virus yellows disease, transmitted by aphids, poses a significant threat to sugar beet crops and can lead to substantial crop losses.
Industry and Environmental Responses
British Sugar, a major supplier responsible for 60% of the UK’s sugar, emphasized the necessity of using neonicotinoids to protect the sugar beet crop and support farmer livelihoods. However, environmentalists and wildlife campaigners criticized the decision, stating that it undermines the ban on neonicotinoids and poses risks to bee populations.
Government’s Perspective and Restrictions
Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) defended the decision, stating that it was not taken lightly and would be tightly controlled. The pesticide’s use will be strictly limited to mitigate environmental risks, including those to pollinators. Restrictions include limits on planting other crops alongside treated sugar beet and the subsequent use of thiamethoxam seed treatments on the same field within 46 months. Monitoring of neonicotinoid levels in the environment will also be implemented.
Call for Sustainable Pesticide Use Strategy
Critics urged the government to expedite the delivery of its long-awaited strategy on sustainable pesticide use. Concerns were raised about the repetitive use of emergency authorizations for neonicotinoids, undermining the ban and potentially harming the environment.
The national action plan on the sustainable use of pesticides is expected to be published shortly, according to Defra.
