Alternative controls

摘要

The diminishing range of crop-protection products available to British growers threatens any moves to increase national production, self-sufficiency and food security. Fortunately, a growing number of companies are developing alternatives to established chemical solutions to pest and disease control.Explaining the predicament, British Growers Association chief executive Jack Ward says: "The issue of crop protection affects alarge proportion of the food manufacturing process in the UK. Deveレ oping a wider range of crop-protection products could makeit easier for growers to protect their crops and gain a greater yield. But without investment, food supplies could be lowered drastically."He adds:丄，he Government needs to maintain a robust line against the EU proposal to introduce a hazard-based approach to active ingredient classification ―and it needs to give more support for Extensions of Authorisation for Minor Use for fresh produce to ensure that a wide range of crop-protection products can be cleared for use more quickly and cheaply."