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Caroline Lucas (Agriculture with Nature Helps Wildlife, but also Humans, Journal, July 18) accuses agrochemical companies of "seeking to undermine the transition to environmentally friendly agriculture" . This statement could not be further from the truth. We are on the brink of the next agricultural revolution; Advances in agricultural science and technology help ensure an abundant and affordable supply of food while reducing the impact on the environment. Our member companies play a vital role in supporting farmers in this process by providing biological solutions, seed selection, data, robotics and pest control that go beyond chemicals.
To fight climate change, we want to be as productive as possible on our land. By using plant protection products, farmers are able to maximize the productivity of existing farmland, giving more land to nature. A low-yielding organic farming system would require the production of more land for yield levels to be maintained, which would have a significant impact on nature. Indeed, researchers at the University of Cambridge have recently found that high-yielding agriculture produces better results for biodiversity than low-yielding systems.
The RSA Food Farming and Countryside Commission report warns that climate change will continue to cause health problems related to food, but that alarmist talk about pesticides will only exacerbate the problem, discouraging consumers from making healthy choices by making them afraid of conventionally produced fresh fruits and vegetables for no reason.
Sarah Mukherjee
CEO of the Crop Protection Association
• Caroline Lucas, opposing high-yield agriculture, jeopardizes the very results she faces. She is wrong to claim that farmers who do not control the seasons or the weather do not work with nature. She is also wrong to suggest that modern agriculture contributes to a poor diet. In the past, some agricultural practices have had adverse effects, but it is also true that modern agriculture is rapidly adopting more sustainable production systems and continues to offer many benefits, including a wide variety of foods. quality, affordable.
The report of the RSA that she quotes says nothing about the issue of food prices says a lot. She suggests that, according to her proposals, the food would remain affordable. Having worked on these issues for over 40 years, my calculations suggest that if we adopt its approach to agriculture, the cost of food and beverages for a household with two children would increase by about 20%.
Has she thought about the social consequences for the 8 million Britons living in food poverty? Some of the most important price increases would be for vegetables and fresh fruit. As far as social equality is concerned, his manifesto should lead to a significant reduction in livestock, so that only the rich enjoy meat in their diet.
Independent research is clear. The only way to solve the trilemma of providing affordable food, a more sustainable agricultural sector and mitigating climate change is to embrace the benefits of science and technology to increase production per hectare.
Sean Rickard
Newton Blossomville, Bedfordshire
• Garden Organic, the UK's leading charity for organic farming and gardening, strongly supports Caroline Lucas's article. Lucas insists on the need for agroecology and, by definition, a biological approach to culture (and gardening), which will address all the key issues raised in the RSA report.
Private gardens, home gardens, school gardens, playgrounds and community growth areas represent more than 500,000 hectares of land in this country. This gives ordinary citizens enormous opportunities to contribute to these recommendations and to contribute to the preservation of the wildlife of our country. Do not use pesticides, encourage biodiversity and feed the soil life are all principles of organic farming. This is not just the responsibility of the farming community. We can and should all make a difference.
James Campbell
General Manager, Garden Organic
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