EU Policies Led to Collapse of Major Biofuel Crop in UK and Europe, Says Report

Abstract

Contradictory EU policies first encouraged and then undermined the farming of a major biofuel in Europe, according to a new analysis. Climate change polices initially rewarded the widespread planting of oilseed rape – the world's most important vegetable oil after soybean – but subsequent pesticide laws have ultimately led to very large yield losses across the continent in recent years. This collapse of oilseed rape farming in the UK and Europe had led to a reliance on imported oils – including palm oil, the growing of which is often responsible for tropical deforestation, and oilseed rape from countries still using pesticides banned by the EU. The findings of the report were presented at a meeting of the British Crop Protection Council by lead author, Dr Patricia Ortega-Ramos from Rothamsted Research. Speaking ahead of the meeting, she said the series of EU policy decisions essentially 'created a serious crop pest. It is a great example of how a better understanding of pests and joined up decision making are going to be vital if we are to reform farming. Contradictory EU policies first encouraged and then undermined the farming of a major biofuel in Europe, according to this new analysis. Climate change polices initially rewarded the widespread planting of oilseed rape – the world's most important vegetable oil after soybean – but subsequent pesticide laws have ultimately led to very large yield losses across the continent in recent years. This collapse of oilseed rape farming in the UK and Europe had led to a reliance on imported oils – including palm oil, the growing of which is often responsible for tropical deforestation, and oilseed rape from countries still using pesticides banned by the EU. The EU'S 2009 Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive was not well implemented, and as a result of that and subsequent decisions, the cabbage stem flea beetle has now become a serious pest. The area of oilseed rape being grown is now falling sharply, with huge financial consequences for farmers and major environmental consequences for all of us.