EU policy has led to the collapse of the rapeseed crop in Britain and Europe

A recent report by Dr. Patricia Ortega-Ramos of Rothamsted Research, presented to the British Plant Protection Council, reveals the significant negative impacts of the European Union's climate change policy on rapeseed cultivation in the UK and Europe. The policy, which encouraged large-scale planting of oilseed rape, has resulted in a sharp decline in yields and a dependency on imported oils due to harsh pesticide laws. The loss of crop diversity and habitat size on farms has led to a surge in pest populations, forcing farmers to increase pesticide use, particularly neonicotinoids, which were later banned by the EU due to concerns about bee populations. The ban's unintended consequence was an increase in the use of pyrethroids, leading to pesticide resistance in beetles and significant crop losses. Consequently, the cultivation area of oilseed rape in Europe has dropped to pre-2006 levels, with the UK experiencing severe pest damage and yield declines, necessitating imports from countries that still use neonicotinoids.