HL Deb 07 February 1996 vol 569 c20WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the percentage of crop losses in the United Kingdom caused by insects, weeds and fungi in 1950 and the most recent date of which records are available.

Lord Lucas:

The Government have never held comprehensive records of crop losses resulting from insects, weeds or fungi.

ADAS specialists carry out surveys of specific crops from time to time. Extrapolating from this information and using their experience and expertise, they estimate that present crop losses attributable to diseases, insects and weeds are in the region of 15 to 20 per cent. At this distance in time, no meaningful estimate can be made of crop losses in 1950.