Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Newark and Sherwood Extinction Rebellion condemn emergency authorisation of “bee-killing” pesticide on sugar beet crops

The government’s emergency authorisation of a neonicotinoid has faced backlash from campaigners and an environmental charity.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said the decision was taken “despite nearly 15,000 people calling on them to choose better support for farmers and thriving wildlife, instead of bee-killing pesticides”.

Authorisation for the use of Thiamethoxam on sugar beet was given for the fourth year in a row, despite the pesticide having been banned in the UK since 2018 and an industry commitment to end reliance on the banned pesticide by 2023.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust explained that even a miniscule trace of the toxin can disrupt a bee’s ability to navigate and reproduce, significantly reducing the chance of survival.

Erin McDaid, head of communications at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said: "The farming minister’s decision to authorise use of a banned neonicotinoid pesticide on sugar beet for a fourth consecutive year is a serious blow for wildlife and the wrong decision. It signals a backwards move and is not an example of evidence-based decision making. It is also a betrayal of those farmers who are committed to producing food sustainably.

"It is shocking that on the same day that the Office for Environmental Protection published a report highlighting that the UK Government is still not on track to meet its own environmental commitments, politicians are still putting short-term corporate profits above nature and the long-term sustainability of farm businesses.”

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is “hugely disappointed” because this decision ignores the third of sugar beet farmers across England who have chosen not to use this chemical in previous years and will now be disadvantaged this year.

Rather than repeated authorisation for the use of banned toxic chemicals, The Wildlife Trusts want to see British Sugar, which has a sugar beet processing factory in Newark, and the government offer more support for farmers to transition away from harmful pesticides.

"This should include providing farmers growing non-neonic treated sugar with clear routes to market and targeted financial support for non-neonic beet growers to cover additional risk they are currently taking on,” the trust added.

In June 2023, The Wildlife Trusts submitted a formal complaint about the minister’s decision to grant authorisations in previous years to the Office for Environmental Protection, which is still under consideration.

Nottinghamshire Extinction Rebellion campaigners have also said the decision has left them “gutted”.

Protests highlighting the issue attracted support in Newark, Edwinstowe, Sherwood Forest and Hucknall.

The group also set up a parliamentary petition to request that MPs hold a debate and vote on any future emergency authorisations.

Carl Braithwaite, 56, who supported the campaign said: ”The petition attracted 5,058 signatures but the minister has taken no account of this and the decision was made behind closed doors without scrutiny yet again.

“I am gutted that the minister has ignored the science and allowed these chemicals to be used on our fields.

“The evidence is clear on the harm neonics cause to bees and pollinators — insects we depend on for a large part of our food production. That’s why these chemicals are banned throughout the EU. It is short-termism at its worst and leaves me worried that the government do not have a coherent plan for nature and food security.

“They should be supporting farmers to transition to more sustainable models of production while moving away from the use of harmful chemicals. We’ve talked to hundreds of members of the public during our local protests and demonstrations and we have found that there is almost unanimous support for keeping a ban in place, in line with other European countries.”

Newark member Graham Keal added: “I’ve been looking at reactions to this decision on our Whatsapp environment group and everyone is utterly dismayed by it. Mark Spencer has once again caved in to agribusiness and his decision means death to bees and other pollinators, even though our food production depends on them.

“I hope voters will show what they think of that come election time.”

Information published on the authorisation by the government assures the pesticide will be permitted only if there is a danger, as evidenced by an independent prediction, of yellow virus incidence of 65% or more.

It stated that emergency authorisations for pesticides are only granted for a limited period of time, in special circumstances where it is necessary because of a danger that cannot be contained by any other reasonable means, and the use is limited and controlled.

This year’s threshold for use is at the highest level it has ever been set.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “We recognise the damaging impact that an outbreak of beet yellow virus could have on farmer livelihoods. We therefore regard issuing an emergency authorisation as a necessary and proportionate measure.

“The product can only be used if a threshold is met, and its use will be strictly controlled. This decision is based on robust scientific assessment and the risks have been evaluated very carefully.”