The headlines were grabbed – ‘Scientists find cocaine in shrimps in Suffolk rivers’ …  but this is only the latest of many warnings recently highlighted by the report from Europe of harmful chemicals in our wider and water environment. The open letter to Mr Gove on the resignation of NGOs from the Pesticide Forum perfectly illustrates the ongoing and growing problems arising from pesticides (see below). Sixty years on from Silent Spring we haven’t learnt the lessons. Bob Earll.

Link resigns from the Pesticides Forum In an open letter to Michael Gove, Link, alongside RSPB and Pesticide Action Network UK, has resigned from the Pesticides Forum and the Voluntary Initiative (VI), due to deep concern about the environmental impacts of pesticides. We have participated in these industry and government led groups for two decades to encourage them to take meaningful action to reduce the impacts of pesticides. However, they have consistently demonstrated a lack of balance and, importantly, have failed to support those farmers who are leading the way by reducing their reliance on pesticides. Meanwhile, the area of UK land being treated with pesticides has risen by more than half since 1990, the average number of times key crops are treated has increased, as has the toxicity of the chemicals being used.

We are therefore calling for the VI and the Pesticides Forum to be replaced with mandatory measures designed to support farmers to adopt non-chemical alternatives in order to reduce pesticide use, including increased funding and research into genuine Integrated Pest Management.