News Sugar beets
British beet grower does not have to rely on neonics
If it is up to the British Ministry of Agriculture Defra, sugar beet growers in England will not have an exemption for the use of neonicotinoids in beet cultivation. Representative NFU Sugar and processor British Sugar do insist on this. Growers are getting an extra slap in the face, now that the government is widening the door for the import of cane sugar.
After known When it became clear that France was considering a derogation for the seed coating with neonicotinoids, several European member states started to move. Farmers, processors and advocates see their chance to get the file back on the table with the agricultural ministries. This is also the case in the Netherlands and Germany happend.
Not final
In the United Kingdom, the organizations came up with the same idea after seeing the French plans. They are, however, far from definitive. At the end of September or the beginning of October, the proposal will be discussed by parliament. Since this is a predominantly 'green' parliament, the question is whether a derogation is feasible. The contours are known. This is where the plans partially go.
The British Ministry of Agriculture Defra sees nothing at all in an exemption. In a response, the spokesperson said that there is substantial evidence that the use of neonics is harmful to bees and other pollinators. Farmers Weekly reports this. Only when science comes up with new insights is Defra prepared to tackle the file again. There will be an accelerated authorization procedure for alternative products that can protect crops against insect damage.
Door open for sugar imports
It is the second blow in a short time for English beet growers. The government recently announced that the import quota for tariff-free raw cane sugar will be increased by 260.000 tons. That is good news for British processor Tate & Lyle and a thorn in the side of British Sugar, which insists that the imported sugar does not meet British sustainability requirements. Something Royal Cosun chairman Dirk de Lugt already quoted earlier in relation to Dutch beet sugar. The UK import deal will start on January 1, 2021, after Brexit has come into effect.
According to British Sugar, the import of cheap sugar provides almost €79 million in benefits, which almost completely disappear into the pockets of competitor Tate & Lyle. The latter sees this precisely as a reimbursement because of the years of unfair competition with subsidized EU sugar. According to the company, the deal is part of creating a level playing field in the sugar market. British Sugar director Paul Kenward is stunned and disappointed. Defra responds by saying that the ambition is to reduce poverty in third world countries and the purchase of cane sugar is a step in that direction.
Not worth the effort of digging
Many European countries are experiencing yield losses due to the lack of neonics. The yellowing virus in particular ensures a lower sugar content. English farmers are complaining about this, but French beet growers seem to be the hardest hit. The Tereos campaign has already started there. In the French department of Aisne, beet yields of 95 to 100 tons per hectare are normally achieved. This season they sometimes only get to 30 tons. A few growers even wonder whether it is worth lifting beets.
Niels van der Boom
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