Abstract
There has been great concern about negative effects on crop production resulting from the ban on insecticide seed treatments containing neonicotinoids. I examine how the neonicotinoid ban has affected crop protection and crop production in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) using Sweden as a case study and compare the Swedish situation with that in leading countries growing winter and spring oilseed rape, respectively. The cropping area of winter and spring oilseed rape in Sweden has increased by approximately 40% to around 100 000 ha and decreased by approximately 90% to around 4000 ha, respectively following the ban and there are trends for increased pest and disease pressure. Overall, however, the ban has not had any major impacts on total oilseed rape cropping area or crop yields per hectare of either winter or spring oilseed rape, which is in contrast to elsewhere in Europe. In Germany and the United Kingdom, for example, the cropping area has decreased following the ban on neonicotinoid seed treatments, attributed to increased insect pest pressure especially from cabbage stem flea beetle, Psylliodes chrysocephala. I conclude that winter oilseed rape has remained a viable crop to grow in Sweden without insecticide seed treatments, but that further investments into integrated pest management are needed for sustainable insect pest control in oilseed rape in the future. © 2021 The Author. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Highlights
In Sweden and elsewhere in northern Europe, crop rotations are often dominated by cereals, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Insecticide seed treatments have been used for decades in oilseed rape in the European Union (EU) to control some of these insect pests during crop establishment
They were used in both winter and spring oilseed rape until 2013, when they were restricted and subsequently banned in the EU (European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/ food/plant/pesticides/approval_active_substances/approval_renewal/neonicotinoids_en) due to a controversial ruling of neonicotinoids having negative effects on bees.[10,11,12]
Summary
In Sweden and elsewhere in northern Europe, crop rotations are often dominated by cereals, winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Insecticide seed treatments containing neonicotinoids were introduced in oilseed rape around 2000 in Sweden, replacing insecticide seed treatments containing carbamates and organophosphates.[9] They were used in both winter and spring oilseed rape until 2013, when they were restricted and subsequently banned in the EU (European Commission, https://ec.europa.eu/ food/plant/pesticides/approval_active_substances/approval_ renewal/neonicotinoids_en) due to a controversial ruling of neonicotinoids having negative effects on bees.[10,11,12] There have been great concerns about the negative effects of the neonicotinoid ban on crop production, including in oilseed rape.[13] With more. I examine how the ban has affected crop production and crop protection in oilseed rape using Sweden as a case study and compare the Swedish situation with that in leading countries growing winter and spring oilseed rape
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