Select Committee · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Insect decline and UK food security

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Mar 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 20 recommendations 14 conclusions 1 report

Insect numbers are difficult to quantify however recent research suggests that in the UK flying insects have declined by 60% in the past 20 years. Insects provide pivotal roles for UK food security including pollination and pest or weed regulation. There are also concerns that pest species may be increasing with negative impacts on crop …

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Second Report - Insect decline and UK food security	HC 326	7 Mar 2024	34	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items

9 Conclusion Second Report - Insect decline and UK f… Not Addressed

Over-densification of honeybee hives detrimentally impacts wild pollinators, necessitating broader conservation efforts.

Charismatic insect species, of which the honeybee is a prime example, serve as invaluable ambassadors for the field of entomology, rendering the subject more accessible to the public and bringing to public attention this often-overlooked animal group. The concentrations of high numbers of hives in a small number of specific …

Government response. The government explains that expanding the National Bee Unit's remit to wild bee health would require legislative changes, and while NBU work indirectly helps wild pollinators and a BeeBase map exists, it does not commit to new specific conservation efforts …

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

32 Recommendation Second Report - Insect decline and UK f… Not Addressed

Include targets for reducing urban/suburban pesticide use and stimulate phasing down in horticulture.

The updated National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Usage should include targets for reducing pesticide use in urban and suburban areas and to improve best practice for use by amateurs. The Government should work with stakeholders such as the Royal Horticultural Society, to stimulate the phasing down of pesticide use …

Government response. The government states it has commissioned research into integrated pest management for the amenity sector and is considering options for improving data collection in both amateur and amenity sectors, but does not commit to including targets for pesticide reduction in …

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions

Date	Witnesses
29 Nov 2023	Dr Rachel Irving · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, John Holmes · Natural England, Rebecca Pow · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs	View ↗
18 Oct 2023	Henry Edmunds · Cholderton Estate, Minette Batters · National Farmers Union (NFU), Professor Linda Field · Rothamsted Research, Professor Toby Bruce · Keele University, Vicki Hird · Sustain	View ↗
12 Jul 2023	Chris Packham CBE, Craig Bennett · Wildlife Trusts, Matt Shardlow · Buglife, Professor Alistair Griffiths · Royal Horticultural Society, Professor Lynn Dicks · University of Cambridge	View ↗
7 Jun 2023	Dr Claire Carvell · UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Dr Erica McAlister · Natural History Museum, Dr James Bell · Rothamsted Insect Survey, Rothamsted Research, Professor Dave Goulson · University of Sussex, Professor Phil Stevenson · Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Professor Simon Potts · Centre for Agri-environmental Research, University of Reading, Professor William Kunin · University of Leeds	View ↗