The NFU says it is keen to work with government on its new strategy to help pollinators as the first hearing by the Environmental Audit Committee gets underway.
The first evidence session for Defra’s draft National Pollinator Strategy aims to gain insight from academics, pesticide manufacturers and the farming industry into pollinator research and protection measures.
Proposed actions suggested in the strategy include the promotion of environmental land management measures through the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) and the uptake of integrated pest management.
The NFU lead on bee health issues attending the committee session is Dr Chris Hartfield. He said: “We are supportive of the proposals in this strategy - they are very important steps to take and the evidence-based approach to these is something we commend.
“Farmers across the country are already supporting CFE which includes voluntary efforts to encourage and safeguard pollinators amongst other measures to increase biodiversity.
“In addition to the benefits pollen and nectar-rich and sheltered habitat alongside crops can provide pollinators, the hope is in time research will be able to demonstrate the precise value of pollinators in increasing crop quality or quantity.”
The NFU is a supporting partner of CFE which helps to ensure pollinators are valued and managed within productive farm businesses.
The final National Pollinator Strategy is to be published this autumn.
