Closed petition Save the bees: cut hazardous pesticides and support nature-friendly farming

The Government should introduce an ambitious target for pesticide reduction, aimed at decreasing the overall amount used and toxicity levels. This should be coupled with new support for farmers to adopt alternative approaches to protecting crops, such as integrated pest management.

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Using pesticides to protect crops must be balanced against the long term dangers they pose to nature, such as harming critical pollinator species. For example, neonicotinoids are highly toxic to bees, but despite being prohibited the Government has authorised their use.

A clear pesticide reduction target, alongside new support for farmers in adopting alternative approaches, should encourage innovation and help protect the health of the British countryside and food security for future generations.

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Government responded

This response was given on 8 August 2022

The Government is committed to developing and implementing policies that support sustainable crop protection with the minimum use of pesticides.

Read the response in full

The Government's landmark Environment Act 2021 commits to halting the decline in biodiversity by 2030. Developing and implementing policies that support sustainable crop protection with the minimum use of pesticides, while ensuring pests and pesticide resistance are managed effectively, will play an important role in achieving this as well as safeguarding food security.

As set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan, by 2028 we want to see a renewed agricultural sector, producing healthy food for consumption at home and abroad, where farms can be profitable and economically sustainable without subsidy. We also want to see farming and the countryside contributing significantly to environmental goals, including addressing climate change.

The National Action Plan (NAP) for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, to be published later this year, will set out measures for increasing the uptake of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and sustainable crop protection across agriculture, amenity and amateur sectors. IPM is a holistic approach which carefully considers all available plant protection methods, including increasing the use of nature-based, low toxicity solutions and precision technologies. We are working with farmers and stakeholders to develop new incentives under the future farming programme’s Sustainable Farming Incentive to support the uptake of IPM for introduction in 2023.

We have been assessing the role of targets, as well as the benefits and challenges of developing them, to support the ambitions of the final NAP. Improving indicators and establishing baselines is an important first step to ensure that goals are meaningful, measurable and drive positive change.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Other parliamentary business

MPs debate the use of bee-killing pesticides in agriculture

On Wednesday 1 February, Luke Pollard MP led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on the use of bee-killing pesticides in agriculture.

Watch the debate
Read the transcript

What are Westminster Hall debates?

Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.

Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'. This means that Westminster debates don’t end in a vote on a particular action or decision.

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

MPs investigate insect decline and impact on food security

A group of MPs called the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is looking into insect decline and its impact on UK food security.

Read the Committee's [press notice][3] announcing this work.

The Committee is considering points including:
- The current evidence base on insect abundance and diversity in the UK.
- The drivers of insect loss, including the effect of pesticides on pollinators and their predators.
- What can be done to protect insect populations and the additional policy levers that could be used to reverse declines.

What happens next?

The Committee is conducting oral evidence sessions to hear from experts in the sector.

An evidence session is a hearing where MPs ask key experts, such as Ministers, academics and/or campaigners, questions on a particular topic. These experts are called "witnesses" and they help MPs to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

The Committee will then consider all the evidence it has taken and publish a report of its findings with recommendations to the Government on any changes that might be needed.

For more information about the inquiry, visit the Committee's [inquiry page][2].

What is the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee?

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that looks into the Government's use of science, technology and research.

Find out more about the committee on its website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/135/science-and-technology-committee

Follow the committee on X, formerly known as Twitter, for updates on its work:
https://twitter.com/CommonsSITC

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the [Your UK Parliament newsletter][1] for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.

[3] https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7381/insect-decline-and-uk-food-security/news/194299/insect-decline-and-uk-food-security-to-be-examined-by-mps/
[2] https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7381/insect-decline-and-uk-food-security
[1] https://parliament.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3ad7e4c57a864f07e4db008c4&id=26d0645ea9

MPs investigate insect decline and impact on food security

A group of MPs called the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is looking into insect decline and its impact on UK food security.

Read the Committee's press notice announcing this work.

What happens next?

The Committee is conducting oral evidence sessions to hear from experts in the sector.

The Committee will then consider all the evidence it has taken and publish a report of its findings with recommendations to the Government on any changes that might be needed.

For more information about the inquiry, visit the Committee's inquiry page.

What is the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee?

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that looks into the Government's use of science, technology and research.

Find out more about the committee on its website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/135/science-and-technology-committee

Follow the committee on X, formerly known as Twitter, for updates on its work:
https://twitter.com/CommonsSITC

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Date closed 11 January 2023
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