A petition against the rapid removal of crop protection products in the European Union has been handed to the European Parliament by a representative of agricultural research institute Rothamstead Research.

The document, signed by 72 scientists and agriculturists, is released as the European Parliament is due to vote on new pesticide regulations that could see a number of substances taken off the market.

'European Agriculture is not in a position to be losing more active ingredients,' said John Lucas, a professor at UK-based Rothamsted Research and the man that presented the petition. 'We feel that we will not be able to replace the substances banned at the speed that policy makers believe.

'The industry is only going to be able to launch about five new active ingredients per year – this is ten times less than the rate at which they have been removed from the market, but pests develop resistance faster than the industry finds solutions,' Mr Lucas added. 'Farmers need to have a variety of pesticides to maintain efficient pest management programmes.'

MEP Robert Sturdy backed the petition, noting that the proposals could lead to a 'serious threat' to food production, leaving farmers defenceless against viruses and disease.

Rothamsted’s Dr Ian Denholm will deliver the petition to 10 Downing Street on Thursday 11 December.

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