Close Menu
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
  • News
    • National Pest Awards
    • BPCA
    • NPTA
    • Companies
    • Local Authority
    • Natural England
    • HSE
    • People
    • Products
    • Best Practice
    • Brexit
    • COVID-19
  • Species
    • Rodents
    • Insects
    • Birds
    • Mammals
  • Magazines
    • June/July 2025
    • April / May 2025
    • Feb / March 2025
    • Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    • Oct / Nov 2024
    • Aug / Sept 2024
  • Library
    • Inserts
    • Supplements
  • Professional Development
    • BASIS
    • Research
    • Stewardship
    • Training
  • Pest Test
  • Jobs
    • View All Jobs
  • Key Supporters
    • Bábolna Bio
    • Bell Laboratories
    • Pelsis
    • Envu
    • Lodi UK
    • PelGar International
    • Russell IPM
    • Syngenta
X (Twitter) LinkedIn
  • Sign-up for weekly news emails
  • Subscribe to Pest Magazine
  • About Us
    • Technical Advisory Board
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
X (Twitter) LinkedIn
Pest Test Log-In
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
  • News
    • National Pest Awards
    • BPCA
    • NPTA
    • Companies
    • Local Authority
    • Natural England
    • HSE
    • People
    • Products
    • Best Practice
    • Brexit
    • COVID-19
  • Species
    1. Rodents
    2. Insects
    3. Birds
    4. Mammals
    5. View All

    Helping a luxury car showroom eradicate an infestation and steer clear of rodents

    25 March 2024

    Case Study – Freeing a pig farm of a severe rodent infestation in just 10 days

    11 May 2023

    Chinese takeaway issues apology after video of rats and raw chicken emerges

    14 July 2021

    Republic of Ireland rodent callouts jump 35%

    25 June 2021

    13 confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornets so far in 2025

    13 May 2025

    Red Spider Mites on the hunt for spaces to hibernate

    3 December 2024

    Rentokil encourages vigilance as wasp activity increases ahead of the early autumn nesting period

    25 September 2024

    Rentokil warns of a surge in biting insects as humid weather continues

    3 September 2024

    Worcester City Council increases budget to control gull numbers by £35,000

    26 October 2022

    BPCA urges householders and businesses to seek professional advice if birds are becoming a problem

    3 May 2022

    NatureScot restricts the use of general licences on Lochan Estate in Perthshire

    7 February 2022

    Natural Resources Wales confirms Welsh general licence extension until June 2022

    17 December 2021

    Conservation charity warns of need for joined-up approach and a fast-track to effective grey squirrel controls

    30 May 2025

    Squirrel charity welcomes new legislation on use of gene editing

    14 June 2022

    Ferrets to be removed as permitted target species for the DOC 250 spring trap

    13 April 2021

    Charity says planting of 30,000 hectares of trees must be matched by grey squirrel control

    10 February 2021

    Conservation charity warns of need for joined-up approach and a fast-track to effective grey squirrel controls

    30 May 2025

    13 confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornets so far in 2025

    13 May 2025

    Red Spider Mites on the hunt for spaces to hibernate

    3 December 2024

    Rentokil encourages vigilance as wasp activity increases ahead of the early autumn nesting period

    25 September 2024
  • Magazines
    1. June/July 2025
    2. April / May 2025
    3. Feb / March 2025
    4. Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    5. Oct / Nov 2024
    6. Aug / Sept 2024
    Featured

    Pest 99: June/July 2025

    By Simon King10 June 2025
    Recent

    Pest 99: June/July 2025

    10 June 2025

    Pest 98: April / May 2025

    8 April 2025

    Pest 97: February / March 2025

    12 February 2025
  • Library
    • Inserts
    • Supplements
  • Professional Development
    • BASIS
    • Research
    • Stewardship
    • Training
  • Pest Test
  • Jobs
    • View All Jobs
  • Key Supporters
    • Bábolna Bio
    • Bell Laboratories
    • Pelsis
    • Envu
    • Lodi UK
    • PelGar International
    • Russell IPM
    • Syngenta
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
News

Radical overhaul of Red Tractor needed to support reduction in pesticide reliance, says NFFN

Simon KingBy Simon King15 March 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Greater action is required to improve Red Tractor’s current approach to pesticide reduction, says a new report published by the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN).

The Sub Standard report – supported by Pesticide Action Network UK and RSPB – reveals that Red Tractor urgently needs to review and strengthen its promotion of non-chemical pesticide alternatives, including via Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

It highlights the scheme’s lack of targets to reduce pesticide use and its failure to require its certified farmers to adopt alternative approaches such as selecting pest and disease resistant crop varieties, crop rotations and using biopesticides.

As the UK’s largest farm and food assurance scheme, the report argues that Red Tractor can become a key player in helping establish a sustainable UK farming system that is less heavily reliant on inputs and make a major contribution towards reducing pesticide reliance.

Sub Standard finds that Red Tractor is missing an opportunity to provide a strong and coherent framework for addressing pesticide use. It also identifies how Red Tractor can support its certified farmers to demonstrate best practice to consumers, thereby enabling them to add value to their business.

The report’s authors consulted farmers in a focus group and survey to identify what Red Tractor could do to help drive uptake of IPM, including via improved access to training, guidance and information. It concludes that if the scheme’s IPM requirements were strengthened significantly it would not only help to improve the diversity and resilience of farm ecosystems, but also drive positive change within farm businesses by reducing variable costs.

The report includes key recommendations for Red Tractor to raise its IPM standards, including introducing goals or targets for reduction applied to the totality of pesticide usage on certified farms as a whole, rather than farm-level targets, and recognises the need for targets to be flexible in response to changing weather and crop conditions.

Martin Lines, co-author of the report, farmer and chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said: “There will always be a balance to strike between pesticide reduction and the quality and quantity of the crop produced, but Red Tractor has an opportunity to provide the right support and guidance in driving an uptake of IPM. This is more than achievable, but most importantly, incredibly necessary.”

“If Red Tractor can demonstrate reduction in pesticide use and enable best practice in IPM, it could help facilitate a route to nature recovery and connect its certified farmers to consumers at a time when the public want greater clarity – and trust – in their food labels. By improving IPM uptake, Red Tractor can help its farmers demonstrate world-leading environmental delivery and give a competitive advantage in a changing marketplace.”

Josie Cohen, head of policy and campaigns at PAN UK, added: “If we’re to have any hope of solving the biodiversity crisis then we must move away from our dependence on pesticides. But Red Tractor standards continue to prioritise the use of chemicals, without placing limits on how much or where they can be used.

“Unlike many UK supermarkets, Red Tractor allows its farmers to use any legal pesticide product, regardless of concerns over impacts to human health or the environment.”

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleRentokil Pest Control reports surge in commercial rodent enquiries
Next Article Doors open at PestEx 2022
Simon King

With more than 25 years' experience in business-to-business publishing, Simon is editor of LBM titles Pest and OvertheCounter. Big fan of Manchester United.

Read Similar Stories

National Pest Awards 2025 – book your place at the industry event of the year

BASF unveil #SelontraCertified

BPCA to host wasp webinar

Latest Stories

National Pest Awards 2025 – book your place at the industry event of the year

23 July 2025

BASF unveil #SelontraCertified

22 July 2025

BPCA to host wasp webinar

21 July 2025
Key Supporters
© 2025 Lewis Business Media. All Rights Reserved.
Lewis Business Media, Suite A, Arun House, Office Village, River Way, Uckfield, TN22 1SL

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • National Pest Awards
  • OvertheCounter
  • Pet Business World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.