Sales sink in agchem industry
Sales sink in agchem industry
CONCERN for pesticide innovation is reflected in the latest figures from the Crop Protection Association. They show over 14% fewer people were employed by manufacturer members in 2000 than the year before.
"It is sad because a lot of the losses were in the R&D sector in which the UK has done very well as innovators," says the CPAs Martin Savage.
Bad weather was largely to blame for annual overall sales in 2000 being cut 10% to £426m. Autumn herbicide use was down 22% on 1999.
"It was very definitely not an insecticide year," adds Mr Savage. Agricultural and horticultural insecticide sales were nearly 16% down.
However, wet weather favouring disease meant fungicide sales were only 1% less than in 1999.
The overall volume of pesticides used in agriculture and horticulture was reduced by nearly 17%. "Thats higher than the recent trend." *
AGCHEM USE 2000
• Sales 10% down on 1999.
• Herbicides cut 22%.
• Insecticide down 16%.
• Fungicides slip 1%.
• Total volume down 17%.
• R&D staff cut 14%.
AGCHEMUSE 2000
• Sales 10% down on 1999.
• Herbicides cut 22%.
• Insecticide down 16%.
• Fungicides slip 1%.
• Total volume down 17%.
• R&D staff cut 14%.