Impact on Scottish crops if the molluscicide metaldehyde is withdrawn

Project Lead: Fiona Burnett
Host Institution: SRUC
Project Date: 1 June 2018 to 1 December 2018
Reference Number:
PHC2018/02
Slug
This report sets out estimates for the crop loss and value to Scottish crop production should the molluscicide metaldehyde be withdrawn. This would leave ferric phosphate as the only available chemical control option. Short term losses are negligible as the substitution of ferric phosphate carries no additional treatment costs and has equivalent efficacy. Longer term there is some risk should resistance arise to this single site mode of action active, and ferric phosphate (although of lower mammalian toxicity to metaldehyde) has some environmental impacts of its own.
Position:
Sector Lead: Agriculture
Institution: Scotland’s Rural College
Position:
Institution: Scotland’s Rural College