Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to combat wheat bulb fly risk.

Defra does not fund any action specifically related to combating the risk of wheat bulb fly. However, Defra works closely with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), a non-Departmental public body, on targeted research and development in areas such as integrated pest management. The AHDB funds a wheat bulb fly survey[1] designed to aid decision making on whether a seed treatment is justified. The forecast risk for 2018 is low.

Defra also undertakes research to increase the productivity, sustainability and resilience of certain arable and horticulture crops, including wheat, through our Genetic Improvement Networks.

[1] https://cereals.ahdb.org.uk/press/2017/october/04/lowest-wheat-bulb-fly-risk-since-monitoring-began.aspx