The Steering Group of The Voluntary Initiative (VI), made up of representatives from across the agricultural sector, discussed future challenges that need addressing in order to reduce the risks associated with pesticide use and to maintain product availability. The discussions were held at its annual steering group on July 8 kindly hosted by Defra.

Rebecca Wells, Operations Director, presented the annual report which showed an increased uptake of the VI’s schemes – The National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) (94.8 per cent of the sprayed area receives applications from a tested sprayer), National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO) (21,672 members), and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan.

Richard Butler, VI Chairman introduced the VI to the Food and Farming Minister George Eustice MP, as ‘a UK wide, industry led partnership that shows that the voluntary approach not only works, but is the best way of delivering pesticide stewardship on farm’.

Addressing the group Mr Eustice said: ‘I am very pleased to take on this part of the Defra brief; crop protection and the associated political and policy challenges are fundamental to food and farming. The work of the VI is very important and well regarded by the sector, and indeed by government. We need a strong commitment of responsibility from the sector in order to be able to pursue risk based decision making that is so integral to this government’s approach to regulation’.

In response Dr Andrew Clark, Director of Policy at the NFU highlighted the sector’s concerns about loss of actives and the threat that we may not be able to continue to grow certain crops.

He said; "The Government comes to power with a welcome commitment for a 25-year food and farming strategy to grow more, buy more and sell more British food.

"This goal means that we need access to a wide range of plant protection products coupled to high standards of pesticide stewardship. But until the EU regulatory regime begins to recognised risk management over hazard, I fear we’ll lose access to very products and research we need to achieve that goal."

He also praised the VI as a pioneer of good practice in pesticide stewardship that the whole agricultural sector is behind.

Andrew Moir, VI Chairman for Scotland reiterated this message, praising farmers and sprayer operators who are making use of the VI schemes; "Farmers and operators out spraying are extremely responsible with pesticide applications, they have to be, and they want to be."

The meeting was closed by Paul Temple, Chairman of AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds, who used the opportunity to update those present on the priorities of AHDB within the area of crop protection. He particularly focussed on integrated pest management; "Not only are we at AHDB investing in IPM, but it is something I am investing in on my own farm as well."