Fears raised over crop protection products
Fears that there could be a drastic reduction in the availability of crop protection products to UK farmers after Brexit –with knock-on consequences for crop yields and quality - were yesterday voiced at a major industry conference.
The risks to British crop protection and plant health brought about as a result of the uncertainties of Brexit were highlighted at the country’s largest potato industry event which opened its two day run at the Great Yorkshire showground near Harrogate yesterday.
Speaking at the biennial exhibition, the new chair of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s (AHDB) potato sector, Dr Sophie Churchill, said that growers had serious concerns about access to plant protection products after the UK left Europe:
“We don’t know how the crop protection landscape will look post-brexit and until we know the outcomes of trade negotiations, we are looking at a prolonged period of uncertainty.”
Dr Churchill said she had spent much of her first six months in her new role seeking out opinions from every sector of the industry from growers to those at the other end of the supply
0 Risks to crops were flagged up at a conference yesterday chain – and stated that the most common concern amongst producers was the future of crop protection products.
She said that the AHDB’S role was to provide a platform and act as a catalyst to allow key organisations across agricultural sectors to take a long-term view on the sustainability and productivity of the industry.
“Our strength in tackling this issue is not only to consider all potential crop protection scenarios – as we are already doing through our growing Horizon series which includes a report dedicated to crop protection – but also in working together.
“We will therefore be leading a wider effort in research and innovation to ensure that the next generation of crop protection products meet these vital aims. We will be sharpening our focus on these issues throughout 2018.”
Voicing the concerns of the industry, Will Shakeshaft of Spearhead Potatoes said that over the past ten years a number of seed treatments, herbicides and desiccants had been removed from the grower’s tool-kit:
“Growers have relied on the work of organisations such as AHDB to provide an evidence-base for potential replacements.” l Similar concerns over pesticides were raised at a conference organised by the pea and bean growing sectors. Commenting on the opportunities and challenges presented to this sector, Coral Russell of British Peas and Beans, said that with 35,000 tonnes of frozen peas imported every year there were real opportunities for the UK industry to sell more peas to British consumers.