The emergency authorisation of #neonicotinoids for #sugarbeet is a sticking plaster that distracts from the industry's much bigger problem.
Sugar is bad for us, and we grow far too much of it.
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Sugar is bad for us, and we grow far too much of it.
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Supporting sugar beet is the opposite of a public good.
When we pump in public money and relax regulation, we support an industry that causes obesity & diabetes.
British beet produces 2/3's more refined sugar than needed to meet the UK population's Recommended Daily Allowance.
When we pump in public money and relax regulation, we support an industry that causes obesity & diabetes.
British beet produces 2/3's more refined sugar than needed to meet the UK population's Recommended Daily Allowance.
Shockingly, as much land is used to grow sugar beet in the UK as all other home-grown vegetables together.
If British Sugar stopped producing excess sugar, it would free up land to grow:
148,000 tonnes of peas,
1.8 mil tonnes of potatoes,
or 3.1 mil tonnes of carrots
If British Sugar stopped producing excess sugar, it would free up land to grow:



That would be much better for our health and our soils and would not require emergency authorisations of bee-killing #neonics
Rather than supporting a polluting industry, enable a green transition for farmers to produce more fruit and veg. Public money for public good

Rather than supporting a polluting industry, enable a green transition for farmers to produce more fruit and veg. Public money for public good

What's more, our research shows we lose half a million tonnes per year of our best soil to sugar beet every year.
We need more #sustainable & #environmental methods of farming & protecting our crops.
Our friends @SoilAssociation have ideas for action
https://twitter.com/SoilAssociation/status/1348613326490783748?s=20
We need more #sustainable & #environmental methods of farming & protecting our crops.
Our friends @SoilAssociation have ideas for action

Meanwhile, we will be watching @BritishSugar v. carefully.
This emergency #insecticide authorisation is temporary. But make no mistake, the industry has lobbied against the full ban for years.
For more info. on the issues in this thread, click here
https://feedbackglobal.org/campaigns/sugar-beet-and-soil-depletion/
This emergency #insecticide authorisation is temporary. But make no mistake, the industry has lobbied against the full ban for years.
For more info. on the issues in this thread, click here
