Millions of lettuces ruined by UK aphid outbreak
Growers are facing losses of £10m, as 30 million heads of lettuce will be rendered unusable.
A record outbreak of aphids has caused millions of lettuces to be wasted in the UK, with growers facing a £10 million loss, according to the British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA). The warm and dry weather has created ideal conditions for the pests, with up to 30% of the UK's lettuce crop between now and the end of October set to be rendered unusable.
Homegrown lettuces dominate the market throughout the summer and early autumn, but imported lettuces are now likely to reach UK shelves earlier than usual. Farms across many parts of England, including the Midlands, East Anglia, the south-east, south and north-west, have been affected by the outbreak. BLSA spokesman Dieter Lloyd described the situation as "serious," with aphids typically blooming in June and again in August/September.
The issue has resulted in the loss of 30 million heads of lettuce over the last couple of weeks and the next couple of weeks, costing growers £10 million. UK growers typically produce around half a billion heads of lettuce during the season. The National Farmers Union (NFU) is supporting growers and researchers amid the outbreak, acknowledging the challenges posed by the warm and dry weather, which has led to rising levels of pests and disease, adding further pressure to farming businesses following a difficult period.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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