France - Plans to ease pesticide ban for sugar beet to curb crop losses

07.08.2020 921 views
The French government will propose lifting a ban on certain pesticides blamed for harming bees to protect sugar beet crops that have been ravaged by insects this year, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday. The government plans to support a legislative amendment in parliament later this year to exempt sugar beet for up to three years from a general ban on neonicotinoids, the ministry said in a statement following a meeting with sugar industry representatives. Sugar beet growers blame the ban on the neonicotinoid group of crop chemicals for insect attacks that could decimate yields this year and say this further threatens the French sugar sector after a price slump in recent years already led to factory closures. “French sugar beet producers are facing an unprecedented crisis: the jaundice virus transmitted by aphids has developed massively across France’s growing regions and is going to impact heavily sugar beet production,” the ministry said.
In addition to the proposed re-authorisation of neonicotinoid pesticides for sugar beet in time for next year’s spring planting, the ministry said 5 million euros ($5.9 million) would be offered to support research into alternatives to neonicotinoids. Farmers say outlawing these pesticides for sugar beet is not relevant to efforts to protect bees as the crop does not flower. They also blame the French authorities for applying a blanket ban on neonicotinoids whereas European Union regulations allow for exemptions. The ministry said the exemption for sugar beet would only apply to pre-treated seeds, with field-spraying of neonicotinoids to remain banned. For crop losses this year, which farmers say could reach 50% in the worst cases, the government will offer compensation to growers, the ministry added.
istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort
17.09.2026

12-hectare blueberry greenhouse project underway in Kenya

Kakuzi Plc has started development of a 12-hectare blueberry greenhouse project in Kenya, adding blueberries as its third commercial superfood crop alongside macadamia and avocado as part of its revenue diversification strategy.

17.09.2026

USA - USDA Expands Crop Insurance Flexibility for Organic Stone Fruit Growers

The USDA is improving crop insurance options for organic stone fruit producers, giving them more flexibility beginning with the 2027 crop year.

17.09.2026

New sweet potato processing facility targets value addition in Uganda

A new sweet potato processing facility in Uganda's Teso sub-region is expected to expand processing capacity and create additional market channels for locally grown sweet potatoes.

17.09.2026

India - Beed Farmers Stage 'Halgi Bajao' Protest Seeking Drought Declaration, Compensation

The protest was organised by the Shetkari Hakka Morcha under the leadership of Rajendra Amte. Farmers demanded that the government conduct panchnamas of crop losses, provide compensation of ₹40,000 per acre and immediately release pending crop insurance payments.

17.09.2026

Vietnam - Summer-autumn rice crop suffers from widespread grain loss, and lessons learned from adapting to climate change.

This year's summer-autumn rice crop has severely impacted the yield and income of farmers in many localities, with over 6,000 hectares of rice suffering from empty or partially filled grains. 

17.09.2026

Costa Rica invests US$40,000 in onion drying infrastructure

Costa Rica's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) has announced an investment of approximately US$40,000 in post-harvest infrastructure for onion growers in Tierra Blanca, Cartago.

16.09.2026

Ukraine vegetable grower builds 7,000-tonne storage facility

PAP Agroinvest in Ukraine's Ternopil region is investing more than UAH 150 million (€3.2 million) in a new vegetable storage facility with a capacity of 7,000 tonnes.

16.09.2026

USA - Skysense Deploys Autonomous Drone Solution to Curb Wildlife and Crop Loss

Protect the yield. Start any conversation in fresh produce this way, and people are immediately on the same page.