The Government has approved the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide treatment on this year’s sugar beet crop in a decision branded "inexcusable" by sustainability champions.

The emergency pesticide authorisation is to tackle the risk to beet from yellows viruses.

Emerging sugar beet seedlings are vulnerable to aphids that have the potential to spread beet yellows virus, which can severely affect sugar beet yield and quality - in 2020, a quarter of the national sugar beet crop was lost.

There are conditions to the emergency use of the pesticide, including it being authorised only if independent modelling predicts a virus incidence of 63 per cent or above. 

If the threshold is met, further conditions apply to minimise risks to the environment, such as a maximum number of seeds planted per hectare and restrictions on planting flowering crops in subsequent years where treated seed has been used.

Farming minister Mark Spencer said: "The product can only be used if a strict threshold is met and on a single non-flowering crop. This decision has not been taken lightly and is based on extensive and rigorous scientific assessment."

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However, the Soil Association disagrees, saying that scientific evidence has been ignored.

Head of farming Policy, Gareth Morgan, said: “The government has ignored scientific evidence and abandoned their own commitment to protect our pollinators for the third year running.

"The UK’s approval for emergency use of bee-harming neonicotinoids came just days after the EU banned this course of action, in recognition of the harm they are proven to cause our vital pollinators – and the threat that poses to everyone’s future.

"It is inexcusable to see England falling so far behind the EU on regulations in place to prevent such a detrimental impact on biodiversity.

“It is not credible to claim an exemption is temporary or emergency when it is used year after year. How many years will bans of these harmful chemicals be overridden?

"If the government is serious about halting biodiversity loss by 2030, they must support farmers to explore long-term, agroecological solutions that do not threaten our endangered bee population or other wildlife.

"Neonicotinoids simply have no place in a sustainable farming system, and farmers need support and guidance to end reliance on them.”