The government has set out its next steps, including identifying legislative options that would legally prevent the future use of three specific neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam – entirely.
In recent years, the virus yellows disease has caused crop losses of 80% for some British sugar beet growers. As a result, emergency authorisations were granted by the previous government, on the basis of forecast disease pressure, in order to protect the viability of the homegrown sugar beet sector.
This year’s virus yellows infection rate was forecast by Rothamsted as 83%. Without the use of cruiser SB treated seed it is likely that much of the crop would have been lost.
Defra said the plans marked an “important step forward in delivering on election commitment to safeguarding bees, butterflies and the wider environment”, however, sugar beet is not a flowering crop, meaning pollinators such as bees and butterflies are not attracted to it.
‘Worrying precedent’
Responding to the news, NFU Sugar Board chair Michael Sly said: “The government’s position on neonicotinoids – a vital tool in protecting homegrown sugar beet from the virus yellows disease – has been clear since the publication of its manifesto.
“I am concerned about what a review of the EA (Emergency Authorisation) process could mean for British sugar beet growers’ access to crop protection products, which they use in a targeted and responsible way.
“It could set a worrying precedent regarding the principle of the EA process if the government simply has a list of products which are unable to be applied for.
“Going forward it is vital that Defra works with the industry to ensure that the homegrown sugar beet industry.”
NFU Sugar Board chair Michael Sly
“The current process is one based on strict regulation. Use is only granted if the virus yellows infection rate forecast, predicted by the independent scientific institution Rothamsted Research, meets the threshold set by Defra.
“Going forward, it is vital that Defra works with the industry to ensure that the homegrown sugar beet industry, which employs more than 9,500 people, is able to have access to the plant protection products needed to grow beet viably while the threat of virus yellows continues.”
Defra has said the legal requirements for emergency authorisations have not changed today and any applications for 2025 will be considered under the law as it stands.
Progress on Virus Yellows solution
The cross-industry Virus Yellows Taskforce, spearheaded by the British Beet Research Organisation, is investing millions of pounds each year in cutting-edge research into potential virus control measures.
While there is no individual silver bullet, the ambition of the taskforce is to develop an integrated approach of stacked controls to protect against the virus.
The Virus Yellows pathway is progressing well. There have been developments across several areas, including in gene editing, conventional breeding techniques and several novel integrated pest management trials which are showing promise.
