Disastrous consequences
Neonics ban costs significant beet yield
After LTO Nederland and Nefyto, Suiker Unie will also issue a statement on the ban on neonicotinoids on 26 April. The beet processor believes that Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) should take responsibility. A ban on seed coatings leads to a financial loss of 17%.
Various organizations come in movement after Schouten announced earlier made to vote for a total ban on 3 neonicotinoids. the Scopaff Committee will meet on Friday 27 April to discuss the subject. A voting round is expected to follow after this.
false promises
Suiker Unie believes that Schouten should take responsibility for this decision. This means providing clarity in the short term. According to the producer, the ban on the products has a major impact on beet cultivation. This was also clear from the conclusions of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and the Board for the Authorization of Plant Protection Products and Biocides.
Earlier, State Secretary Sharon Dijksma (Infrastructure and the Environment) repeatedly stated that a total ban was not imminent, as a result of which Cosun, Suiker Unie, Wageningen University & Research and the IRS have never rushed to investigate alternatives.
17
procent
Bad alternatives
The neonicotinoids are used in the seed coating of sugar beets. Should this no longer be applied, then full-field spraying of the insect control must be resorted to. However, the current package of agents is less effective and has a worse effect on the control than neonicotinoids in the seed.
This costs an average carrot yield of 7%, so that the financial loss is 17%, according to Suiker Unie's calculations. It also notes that the loss of yield varies enormously in practice, with peaks of up to 50%. In addition to lower yields, there is a negative effect on beneficial insects and the environment, it states.
A slew of insects is more difficult to combat without a coating; this includes, for example, aphids, beet flies and beetles, wireworms, the black bean aphid and thrips. There are no alternatives available for some insects. For others, the current package of resources works insufficiently, or they may only be used to a limited extent.
Future
According to Suiker Unie, research must be carried out in the very short term into damage thresholds, monitoring systems and the stimulation of natural enemies. There must also be more resistant beet varieties and new agents that can be sprayed or added as a coating.
Niels van der Boom
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