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

07.08.2020 648 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
06.01.2026

India - Nagapattinam farmers protest against non-disbursal crop claims, bad seeds

The shocked officials from the revenue and agriculture departments attempted to hold talks with the protesting farmers, but the farmers continued to stage the protest. 

06.01.2026

UAE deploys AI ecosystem to support climate-vulnerable agriculture

The United Arab Emirates has launched an AI-driven ecosystem to help climate-vulnerable agricultural regions adapt to increasingly volatile weather.

06.01.2026

Von der Leyen proposes to unlock €45 billion for farmers to secure support for Mercosur deal

Italy and France have been pushing the Commission to grant more concessions on the agricultural policy budget.

06.01.2026

FAO Recognizes Pioneering Moroccan Research in Smart Agriculture and Water Management

The research focuses on innovative applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning (ML) in sustainable agricultural irrigation management, marking a major scientific win for Morocco.

06.01.2026

Crop Loss Deepens Food Insecurity Across Africa

Crop losses linked to climate shocks, pests and diseases are placing growing pressure on food production systems across Africa, say researchers from the Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL).

06.01.2026

India - Tea prices soar at Kochi auctions on reports of frost, crop loss in Nilgiris

Reports of frost impact, crop loss in Nilgiris coupled with the absence of last week sales due to Christmas has triggered tea prices to higher levels in Kochi auctions.

29.12.2025

Cyprus in state of emergency as foot-and-mouth outbreak in occupied north threatens livestock sector

The Agriculture Ministry has entered a state of emergency mobilisation after reports of Foot and Mouth Disease cases in a cattle unit in occupied Lapathos in the Famagusta district. 

29.12.2025

India - Uttarakhand farmers receive Rs 65.12 Crore insurance; new initiatives announced at state-level farmers' day

A state-level Farmers' Day dedicated to farmers' welfare and economic upliftment was organised in Gauchar (Chamoli). On this occasion, Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami transferred an insurance amount of Rs 65.12 crore to 88,000 farmers through DBT under the Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme, the release said.