With the UK’s oilseed rape plantings potentially reaching the lowest levels in 40 years, Chris Guest, managing director of plant breeder NPZ UK, is advocating for a revival of the crop, emphasising its importance for both UK growers and the nation’s food security.
Mr Guest stated: “Oilseed rape can be one of the highest gross margin break crops, if not all arable crops, for growers, alongside its rotational and environmental benefits. Yet the crop faces undue negative attention, overshadowing the numerous positives.”
He added: “This skewed perspective is harmful, as it often highlights only the negatives. However, there are many instances of successful and average results to balance out the poorer ones, which we all acknowledge occur across all crops.”
On the issue of food security, Mr Guest emphasised the significance of oilseed rape. He said: “This crop is crucial for the UK, serving diverse roles in both food and industrial products. The oil is used widely, as seen on supermarket shelves, and the by-product, rape meal, is vital for animal feed. Unfortunately, the UK has shifted from being an exporter to an importer of rapeseed, which is detrimental to both the economy and our food security.”
Acknowledging the challenges, he commented: “We can agree that oilseed rape has become a high-risk crop, but breeders are committed to supporting its success. At NPZ UK, we focus on introducing varieties with improved yield, disease resistance, and other agronomic benefits.”
He continued: “Variety selection is crucial. An often overlooked attribute is late-season stem disease resistance. For instance, our genetics featuring the RlmS phoma resistance gene can reduce yield losses by up to 30% compared to certain market-leading varieties. While pod shatter resistance is important, it should not be the sole focus. Strong stem health against late-season disease is more critical in many seasons.”
Mr Guest also addressed sowing practices: “We recognise that many growers are sowing earlier to combat flea beetles. However, research with Dr Ute Kropf of the University of Applied Sciences, Kiel, shows that early-sown crops may limit their yield potential due to excessive development before winter. Our trials with later sowing dates have shown promising results, demonstrating the large yield potential from crops sown in early and late September.”
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