The initiative involves training more than 300 of the supermarket’s growers and farmers who between them account for 80,000 hectares of UK farmland to grow pollen- and nectar-rich habitats for bumblebees to boost biological controls. The project follows a successful pilot carried out by Marshall Brothers and five years of scientific research undertaken by Syngenta.
Growers are encouraged to sow and manage field boundaries and other uncropped areas within their fields using a unique seed mix to produce a selection of plants and wild flowers which deliver a consistent supply of pollen and nectar vital for bumblebees to thrive.
George Reid, a potato and brassica grower for Sainsbury’s, said: “We are really excited about this project. We have already seen an increase in bumblebees as our seed mix starts to flower. We will continue to sow the seed mix until the first week in September - and we look forward to seeing many more bumblebees at work in our fields by this time next year.”
Debbie Winstanley, product technologist for potatoes, roots, brassicas and onions, is leading the project for Sainsbury’s and Geoff Coates, Syngenta’s environmental projects manager, heads up the initiative at the crop protection specialist.
No comments yet