Insect decline and UK food security

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 20 Mar 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
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 … Read more
20 Recommendations
14 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
4 Events
Activity timeline 6 events
7 Feb
2025
Report published
7 Mar
2024
Report published
29 Nov
2023
Oral evidence
18 Oct
2023
Oral evidence
12 Jul
2023
Oral evidence
7 Jun
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
29 Nov 2023
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Insect decline and UK food security
Dr Rachel Irving · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs John Holmes · Natural England Rebecca Pow · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
18 Oct 2023
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Insect decline and UK food security; Insect Decline and UK food security
Henry Edmunds · Cholderton Estate Minette Batters · National Farmers Union (NFU) Professor Linda Field · Rothamsted Research Professor Toby Bruce · Keele University Vicki Hird · Sustain
12 Jul 2023
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Insect Decline and UK food security
Chris Packham CBE Craig Bennett · Wildlife Trusts Matt Shardlow · Buglife Professor Alistair Griffiths · Royal Horticultural Society Professor Lynn Dicks · University of Cambridge
7 Jun 2023
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Insect Decline and UK food security
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
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Insect decline and UK food security HC 326 7 Mar 2024 34 Response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
34 results
1 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Substantial knowledge gaps persist in understanding insect populations and decline.
During this Inquiry it has become evident that substantial knowledge gaps persist in our understanding of insect populations. Despite the UK being a leader in this field of research, there remains a scarcity of comprehensive and comparable data which poses … Read more
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2 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Lack of long-term insect monitoring and consistent data collection hinders trend analysis.
The lack of long-term monitoring programmes for many insect species, and inconsistent data collection methods, hampers the ability to discern trends over time.
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3 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Establish a clear, long-term strategy for sustained insect monitoring research and funding.
The Government and its agencies like UKRI should produce a clear strategy for sustaining long-term insect monitoring research. This involves not only maintaining existing projects but also initiating new studies that can address insect data gaps. Funders should commit to … Read more
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4 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Effective communication about insect decline requires focusing on solutions, not fatalism.
Effective communication of the reality of insect decline needs to be accompanied by communication of actions that can address it. A fatalistic approach risks reducing the chances of changes being made to policy, behaviour and practices that can make a … Read more
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5 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Highlight reality of insect decline and actionable steps to tackle it.
The Government and its agencies should consider ways in which to communicate not only the reality of insect decline but also the attainable steps that can be taken to tackle it. (Paragraph 42) The importance of insects for UK Food Security
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6 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Diverse insect and invertebrate roles are crucial for UK food security beyond pollination.
While pollinators play a crucial role in ensuring UK food security, it is essential to recognise that insects and invertebrates play more than this one role in supporting food production. Diverse species are essential for preserving ecosystems, and their populations … Read more
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7 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Create a National Invertebrate Strategy with five-yearly implementation plans and accountability targets.
We commend the success of the National Pollinator Strategy and eagerly await the 2025–2035 update that we expect to be published by September 2024. There is scope to build on the work of the strategy by creating a complementary ‘National … Read more
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8 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Advocate for and address international issues of insect decline affecting global food security.
The United Kingdom relies significantly on the global production of various horticultural crops, including fruits and salad vegetables. These imported foods may be subject to vulnerabilities, such as wars, which can see significant price increases. Approximately 50% of the food … Read more
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9 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
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 … Read more
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10 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Expand National Bee Unit remit to focus on wild bee health and hive impact guidance.
Defra should expand the remit of the National Bee Unit, to include a focus on wild bee health. This should include both developing internal expertise and fostering collaboration with entomology experts and producing biennial reports, as part of the National … Read more
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11 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Early education is crucial for fostering public passion in entomology and countering aversion.
Raising awareness of the importance of various insect species must be nurtured early to avoid the aversion that many people have to insects. The scarcity of experts, both professional and amateur, underscores the importance of cultivating a greater public passion … Read more
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12 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Facilitate nationwide access to external insect teaching resources and diverse entomology career pathways.
In its response to this report, the Government should set out how it intends to facilitate nationwide access to external teaching resources offered by public bodies. This access, available through online platforms and educational visits, can significantly enhance the educational … Read more
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13 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Existing biology GCSE curriculum inadequately addresses crucial aspects of insect study.
The existing biology and core sciences GCSE curriculum inadequately addresses crucial aspects of insect study and focuses on a limited selection of ecological roles. We applaud the introduction of the new Natural History GCSE, which aims to not only encompass … Read more
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14 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Promote access to the new Natural History GCSE, focusing on disadvantaged schools.
The Government should ensure that it promotes access to the new Natural History GCSE when it is launched, with particular focus on schools that may not currently have easy access to the natural environment.
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15 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Citizen science projects and amateur entomologists make invaluable contributions to insect research.
We commend the often-overlooked contributions of amateur entomologists, ranging from unpaid species experts to members of the public involved in citizen science initiatives. While the collection of insect monitoring data remains invaluable for entomology, citizen science projects serve a broader … Read more
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16 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Implement strategies to enhance inclusivity in citizen science projects for urban and disadvantaged groups.
Citizen science projects, especially those supported by public funding, should implement strategies to enhance inclusivity, ensuring the involvement of people from urban and disadvantaged backgrounds. This broader participation not only facilitates the collection of data from areas such as urban … Read more
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17 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Land use change, management, and pesticide usage are major factors in UK insect decline.
Witnesses to this Inquiry have told us that within the UK, land use change, land management practices and pesticide usage are amongst the largest contributing factors to insect decline. Consequently, the largest influence on achieving the biodiversity targets for insect … Read more
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18 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
ELMS implementation requires continuous monitoring and adaptation to ensure positive environmental outcomes.
Evidence from this Inquiry supports the conclusions from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that the impact of Environment Land Management Schemes (ELMS) should be monitored and adapted as needed throughout its implementation, to gain the benefit of an … Read more
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19 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Establish a monitoring and evaluation programme for ELMS, including insect abundance data.
The Government, in response to this report, should outline its plans to establish a monitoring and evaluation programme for ELMS. Such a programme should incorporate mechanisms to feed data on specific outcomes—such as insect abundance— back into long-term monitoring programmes. … Read more
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20 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Publish annual reports detailing ELMS uptake, actions, farmer feedback and insect impacts.
ELMS uptake levels, including a breakdown for each standard within the Sustainable Farming Incentive and how the schemes are combined by participants; a) implemented actions following scheme uptake; b) the influence of farmers’ feedback on ELMS development; and c) the … Read more
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21 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Integrated Pest Management requires innovative approaches and commercial demonstration for widespread adoption.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an important component of sustainable crop protection; however, it requires more knowledge than traditional pesticide applications. To enhance the successful implementation of IPM, it is imperative to adopt innovative approaches and new tools, such as … Read more
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22 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Extend IPM advisory networks and incorporate new technologies into ELMS for farmers.
We support the work of the Voluntary Initiative in disseminating advice to farmers on implementing Integrated Pest Management strategies. However, there is scope to extend the scheme to incorporate a peer-to-peer advisory network to provide farmers with access to a … Read more
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23 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Statutory targets risk meeting goals despite significant invertebrate species decline due to exclusions.
The statutory targets to halt and reverse species extinction and decline in abundance are ambitious and welcome. However, the exclusion of numerous invertebrate species and in some cases entire groups from the baseline metrics, particularly those vital for UK food … Read more
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24 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Revise Red List and indicators to include more invertebrate species and publish a Baseline List.
Revised versions of Natural England’s ‘Red List’ and the ‘biodiversity indicators’ used to measure changes in abundance should include a minimum of one species per family, which would result in a significant increase in invertebrate representation. In response to this … Read more
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25 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Insufficient SSSI improvements mean half of sites fail to conserve invertebrate biodiversity effectively.
Witnesses to our Inquiry estimate that approximately half of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are not in a good state and are failing to conserve invertebrate biodiversity. Protected sites do not exist in isolation and are therefore influenced … Read more
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26 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Invest in monitoring landscapes surrounding protected areas and include data in SSSI assessments.
The Government should invest in the monitoring of landscapes surrounding protected areas to collect evidence on how these areas impact the quality of protected sites. This data should be included in the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) condition assessments. … Read more
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27 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Government's six-year delay in publishing National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use is unacceptable.
The UK has made international commitments to reducing the overall risk caused by pesticides by at least half by 2030. Whilst we acknowledge that updating the National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use, the UK implementation plan to achieve these … Read more
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28 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Publish National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use no later than May 2024.
We echo the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee’s recommendation that the Government should publish the National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use no later than May 2024.
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29 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Impact of pesticides on non-pollinator insect species remains unknown due to data gaps.
The impact of pesticides on insect species that are not pollinators remains not fully known due to the lack of data on pesticide accumulation in terrestrial environments and specific details of pesticide applications on managed land.
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30 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Outline incorporation of terrestrial monitoring proposals and increase pesticide usage survey respondents.
The Government should outline how the ‘Proposals for Terrestrial Environmental Monitoring of Plant Protectant Products’ will be incorporated into the National Action Plan for Sustainable Pesticide Use. Furthermore, the Government should consider how it could use its powers to increase … Read more
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31 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Amenity and amateur pesticide use harms insects without benefitting UK food production.
Pesticide use by amenity and amateur sectors in urban and suburban areas does not benefit UK food production and can have adverse effects on many insect species.
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32 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
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 … Read more
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33 Conclusion
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Pesticide regulatory system hinders innovation in sustainable agricultural alternatives due to high costs.
While a contentious debate exists between nature conservation groups and agriculturalists regarding the use of conventional pesticides, both sides acknowledge the importance of developing new solutions, emphasising the need for increased investment in practical research and development. The regulatory system’s … Read more
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34 Recommendation
Second Report - Insect decline and…
Adopt evidence-based pesticide legislation to expedite approval for innovative, targeted alternatives.
The Government should adopt an evidence-based strategy in formulating pesticide legislation, promoting the development of new plant pesticides with heightened target specificity. This approach would aim to mitigate the dual risks of pest resistance development and adverse off-target effects on … Read more
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