The use of pesticides on UK farms will be reduced by 10 % by 2030 by government plans to protect bees and other pollinations.
Activists welcomed the news, but they said they were disappointed that the goal applies only to farm farms, not to urban areas and gardens.
The plan has been a long time – it has been delayed since 2018. The European Union’s goal to reduce pesticides is more ambitious; Its member states aim to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides, as well as the use of the most dangerous pesticides, 50 % by 2030.
The UK government will unveil a new pesticide loading index to monitor the progress made towards this goal, and to encourage integrated pest management, which is a way to reduce pests on agricultural lands without using pesticides.
This can include more attractive cultivation plants for some pests alongside crops, to turn their attention away, or use meat or other predators to maintain pest numbers. The plan also includes penalties for those who fail to use pesticides responsibly, and the goal notes how toxic pests as well as the amount of what is used, which activists also welcomed.
“We are happy that the UK government has announced today that the first goal in reducing pesticide pesticides in the UK. To the environment is now taking seriously,” said a spokesman for pesticide cooperation, a group of health and environmental organizations, academics, unions and consumer groups.
“We are also happy with the existence of obligations to increase the absorption of non -chemical alternatives by farmers and urge the government to provide them with the support they need. While there are no obligations to abandon the use of urban pesticides, we have confirmed from the government that this field of work will advance separately.”
“The failure of the new plan to address the use of insecticides in urban areas is a major defect. The government must adhere to abandoning pesticides and herbal pesticides in gardens and urban streets, which is unnecessary and the risk of people’s health, pets, wildlife, stagnation, and soil,” said Paul de Zilva, a nature activist in the Friends of the Earth.
The farmers welcomed the plan, and they requested government support to create habitats for predators that feed on pests.
Martin Lines, CEO of The Nature Friendly Agriculture “I welcome the publication of the long business plan, especially inserting specific goals to reduce pesticides. However, it remains to see whether it can really make the fundamental changes that we need urgently,” the network said.
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“The significant limit from the use of chemicals and the transition to nature-based solutions-such as the creation of predatory insects-is completely essential to building a diet and flexible cultivation for the future, contrary to the decrease in nature and biological diversity.”
This is the last step towards Reducing pesticide use In the UK, after the government recently adhered to ending the use of neon pesticide, which is toxic to bees.
“The government is restoring our natural world as part of our commitment to protecting the environment while supporting productivity and economic growth. For this reason we have banned pesticides that kill bees in England and today, we support farmers and farmers to adopt sustainable practices,” Emma Hardy said.
