The need for crop protection has never been greater, and if the UK gets it right, sustainable intensification of agriculture means being able to promote wildlife - including bees.
This was the message from Crop Protection Association’s chief executive Dominic Dyer at an All Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture meeting in Westminster this week on bee health. Dr Jeff Pettis, a bee specialist with the US Department of Agriculture, presented his studies on the potential interaction of insecticides and bee diseases at the meeting.
Mr Dyer commented: "It was interesting that Dr Pettis was happy to admit that he had been unable to repeat the laboratory work in the field. Clearly the take-home message is that when it comes to a complicated social species, such as the honey bee, it is important to avoid basing policy on laboratory observations alone.
"We believe that the use of insecticides is very important to a farmer’s ability to grow sufficient food. There is an extremely robust regulatory framework that ensures that when these products are used properly, and according to the product label, there are no risks to bee colonies. We can produce more food and encourage wildlife," concluded Mr Dyer.
