Minister Urges UK to Prioritize Food Security While Addressing Decline in Insect Population

The minister noted the importance of reversing the decline in Britain’s insect population while also supporting farmers to boost production for food security.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow spoke to the House of Commons Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee about the research indicating a significant decline in flying insects that play a crucial role in UK food security, such as bees and butterflies.

She stressed the need to encourage insects for pollination, especially with the increasing global pressure on sustainable food supplies.

While highlighting the importance of producing our own food, Ms. Pow acknowledged the significance of striking a balance and the value of insect pollinators for food production.

Ms. Pow also mentioned the gaps in knowledge regarding the decline of Britain’s insect population, partly attributing it to the use of pesticides in farming.

National Action Plan on Pesticides

She announced the forthcoming publication of a national action plan on pesticides by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Accompanied by Rachel Irving from Defra, she discussed funding into a pesticide loading indicator to analyze the impact of pesticides on different species.

Furthermore, Ms. Pow indicated that Brexit provided the UK with more flexibility in granting subsidies to farmers for wildlife conservation. She highlighted how the UK’s Sustainable Farming Initiative had tailored the system to benefit the environment.

Downside of Urban Beekeeping

Ms. Pow discussed the downside of urban beekeeping, emphasizing the potential negative impact on wild bees due to insufficient pollen in cities.

Additionally, she mentioned the loss of habitats and the excessive use of pesticides as contributing factors to the decline of insects in the UK.