The UK Pesticides National Action Plan (NAP) has been welcomed by the NFU, alongside compliance and new targets to minimise risk measures.
However, the Union is noting that the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) has left many wondering how this will impact the uptake of integrated pest management (IPM); citing a lack of joined-up policy-making.
It said that it remains unclear how NAP will be supported and delivered without the SFI options that promoted it, and questioned Defra’s commitment to IPM uptake without impacting the competitiveness of farmers.
NFU deputy president David Exwood said: “The UK currently has some of the most stringent pesticide regulations in the world which control any potential impact or risks from their use.
“UK farming is committed to demonstrating that it is continuing to take a responsible approach to using plant protection products, and it would have been good to see the NAP mark the progress we’ve made. For example, under the previous NAP, we successfully increased training of spray operators, equipment testing and stewardship initiatives. And last year, more than 6,000 Voluntary Initiative IPM Plans were completed on farms across the country. These have resulted in world-leading professionalisation of pesticide use.
“The focus on IPM also aligns with the NFU’s own plant health strategy, which puts IPM at the heart of all 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. The NAP has come up short on the detail of how it will support this balance.
“We will be working through the full details of the new NAP and working with government to ensure this new plan protects public health and the environment, while also helping to drive sustainable climate-friendly food production in the UK.”