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

07.08.2020 656 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
18.01.2026

India - Bihar Launches Online Crop Loss Compensation Scheme: Farmers Can Claim ₹7,500–₹10,000 per Hectare

The Bihar government has announced financial assistance for farmers affected by crop losses under the Bihar State Crop Assistance Scheme. 

18.01.2026

Afghanistan - $30m new cold storage facility opens in Kabul to boost agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MoAIL) has inaugurated a new cold storage facility in Kabul, saying it will help reduce agricultural waste, cut imports, and strengthen the economy.

18.01.2026

Pakistan frost wipes out 65% of tomato crop in Khushab district

A frost event damaged standing tomato crops across villages, including Kathha Saghraal, Kathha Misraal, and Kotli Rajgan in the foothills of Daman-e-Mahaar in Pakistan's Khushab district. Fields that had been producing red and green tomatoes were affected within a short period, with plants showing dried leaves and damaged stems.

18.01.2026

Ireland Leads Europe in Regenerative Ocean Farming

Ireland is leading a new EU-backed initiative to scale sustainable seaweed farming while restoring marine ecosystems across Europe. The SEAGROW project is funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and is coordinated from Ireland by Óir Na Farraige. The project aims to improve productivity in seaweed cultivation while enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health.

18.01.2026

India needs fertiliser pricing reforms to restore soil health

India needs to urgently restore the health of its soils to improve crop health and human nutrition through a combination of approaches, including policies for rationalising fertiliser pricing, a new paper said. It also called for the development of precise, customised and site-specific fertilisation solutions, complemented by appropriate agronomic practices.

18.01.2026

China issues action plan to speed up agricultural modernization

China seeks to speed up agricultural modernization over the next five years by establishing demonstration zones that leverage deepened reforms and technological innovation to enhance production capacity, as well as the quality and efficiency of agricultural output.

15.01.2026

Soil-based method can stop locust swarms from destroying crops

"They're very destructive when there's a lot of them, but one-on-one, what's not to love?" says Arianne Cease. She's talking about locusts.

15.01.2026

Fifty French farmers arrested after storming agriculture ministry building in Paris

Around 100 members of the Confédération Paysanne union entered a section of the ministry, which they occupied for an hour to denounce the government's agricultural policy.