The UK government has announced a landmark move to ban neonicotinoid pesticides, infamous for their detrimental effects on pollinators like bees.
Plans were revealed to eliminate the use of these toxic chemicals in England, fulfilling an election pledge to safeguard pollinators critical to the nation’s agriculture and economy.
Neonicotinoids, including clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, are highly toxic to bees and other pollinators, even at sub-lethal levels. These chemicals have been linked to cognitive and foraging impairments in bees, posing significant risks to hive productivity and overall biodiversity.
To ensure the ban is enforceable, the government is exploring legislative options to prohibit emergency authorisations that have allowed neonicotinoid use on crops like sugar beet over the past four years.
The National Action Plan (NAP) on pesticides will also outline sustainable farming practices, including research into alternatives like virus-resistant crop varieties and integrated pest management approaches.
Source: Foresight
