Defra plan to ‘reduce pesticides risks’

Environmental risks from pesticides must be reduced by 10% in the next five years, says the government.

The UK National Action Plan on Pesticides says farmers must ensure pesticide use is sustainable –  protecting the environment and human health while boostig food production for the long-term future.

The plan pledges support for farmers, growers and land managers who voluntarily embrace alternative measures – including nature-friendly farming techniques. But it is unclear how this will be achieved.

Pesticide resistance, climate change, and invasive species pose significant challenges to our food security, says the government plan. The goal is to reduce the potential harm from pesticides by 10% by 2030, while continuing to control pests and pesticide resistance effectively. Rather than a simple 10% reduction in pesticide usage, the plan focuses on a 10% reduction in potential environmental harm by measuring the impact of pesticides across 20 key indicators.

Defra says a nature friendly approach – including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – is better for everyone. It wants healthier ecosystems where vital pollinators, such as bees, can flourish. This willboost crop health and food production, it adds.

Plan for change

The pesticide plan is part of the government’s wider Plan for Change. Defra said: “It is clear food security is national security. [That] is why we are supporting farmers to spend less on pesticides in the future while boosting productivity.”

Environment minister Emma Hardy said: “The government is restoring our natural world as part of our commitment to protect the environment while supporting productivity and economic growth.”

Ms Hardy added: “We have banned bee killing pesticides in England and today we’re going further to support farmers and growers to adopt sustainable practices.”

‘Long overdue’

The NFU said the action plan was long overdue. But it said it was still unclear how the government would support an increased focus on IPM and compliance without impacting the competitiveness of farmers.

NFU deputy president David Exwood said there was a surprising lack of detail and commitment to ensure farmers and growers would still have the crop solutions they needed to produce food.

“While the government rightly focuses on public health and the environment, it is critically important this is balanced with the need to grow affordable British food.”

Mr Exwood: “The UK currently has some of the most stringent pesticide regulations in the world which control any potential impact or risks from their use.”

Farmers were committed to demonstrating they were taking a responsible approach to using plant protection products, said Mr Exwood. The industry had already increased sprayer operator training, equipment testing and pesticide stewardship.

Mr Exwood added: “It would have been good to see the plan mark the progress we’ve made. The focus on IPM aligns with the NFU’s own plant health strategy, which puts IPM at the heart of crop protection activity.

“While the government rightly focuses on public health and the environment, it’s critically important this is balanced with the need to grow affordable British food and increase productivity.

“For this, farmers and growers need continued support for IPM uptake and access to more effective tools to protect crops from pests, weeds and disease, and to ensure they can run thriving, profitable businesses.”

Three core goals

Clear targets and measures to monitor pesticide usage

Encourage uptake of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Strengthen compliance and promote good practice    

[Source: Defra]