UK farmers have struck out at new EU proposals on the rules governing pesticide use, suggesting that if the policy proposals go ahead they will further drive up food prices.
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The EU has put forward proposals to ban large numbers of pesticides commonly used in conventional agriculture.
Responding to the move, Farmers Weekly has started a “Save our Sprays” campaign.
“At face value, banning pesticides from the food chain may seem like a good thing. Certainly it is an‘easy win’ for MEPs keen to get re-elected,” says Farmers Weekly’s Philip Clarke, who is managing the campaign. “But on closer inspection the plan is fundamentally flawed.”
According to independent research, soon to be released by the Cranfield School of Management, if the legislation goes ahead the price of potatoes will double, bread will go up by more than 10 pence per loaf, pork chops will increase by 40 pence per kilogram and a carton of milk will cost 3 pence per litre more.
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By GlobalData“Should the European Parliament succeed in banning 85% of current pesticides, then the price of cereals will have to double in order to make up for the drop in output,” Clarke warned.
