The impact of insect decline, including on UK food supply, is the
focus of the Commons Science and Technology Committee’s new inquiry.
There are growing concerns that insect numbers and diversity are
in decline globally, threatening biodiversity and important
processes in food production such as pollination, pest and weed
regulation. Research evidence suggests intensive farming
practices and climate change are driving declines, yet
significant uncertainty remains around the scale of the problem
in the UK.
MPs will interrogate the current evidence base on insect
abundance and diversity in the UK and examine the drivers of
insect loss, including the effect of pesticides on pollinators
and their predators.
The Committee seeks evidence on whether the Government is doing
enough to protect insect populations and the additional policy
levers that could be used to reverse declines.
Rt Hon MP, Chair of Science and
Technology Committee, said:
“Insects are essential to the survival of our natural
world and play a pivotal role in food production. But growing
evidence from around the world suggests their numbers are
dwindling.
“We want to find out more about what is happening to
insect diversity in the UK and the potential impacts on food
security.”
ENDS
Terms of reference
The Committee welcomes submissions by Friday 28
April addressing any or all of the following topics:
- The current evidence base for statistics on insect decline,
such as the claimed 60% reduction in flying insects in the UK,
and the gaps in scientific understanding that require further
research;
- The effects of pesticides, such as neonicotinoids or other
agricultural control methods on insects including pollinators and
their impact on UK food security;
- The extent that biodiversity initiatives, such as creating
reservoir populations, are addressing insect decline and whether
there is sufficient co-ordination with the UK food system;
- Whether the threat to UK food security from insect decline
receives sufficient cross-government priority; and
- Additional policy initiatives and solutions needed in the UK
and internationally to reduce and reverse the trends in insect
decline.
