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Michael Gove, Minister for the Environment, has committed the UK to backing a ban on bee-harming pesticides. "Where there is evidence that human activity is contributing to pollinator decline, we have a duty to act. Among the potential threats to pollinators are neonicotinoids, a type of pesticide." He writes "the UK will be supporting further restrictions on neonicotinoids. Unless the evidence base changes again, the government will keep these restrictions in place after we have left the EU."

After Tuesday's vote in the EU parliament to limit the glyphosate licence for just 5 years, the EU Commission was expected to ratify this decision the day after. Instead, they failed to take a vote.

This delays the final decision on extending the licence for glyphosate, due to run out at the end of the year.

Garden Organic is launching a series of free workshops for Southwark residents as part of the charity’s Southwark Food Poverty project.

The workshops, taking place throughout November and December, focus on different aspects of organic food growing and include; The £10 Garden, for those on a tight budget; Vertical Veg, exploring how to make the most of a small growing space; and Cutting Edge Veg, covering how to grow veg from other countries.

A new research study shows that nearly half of Europe’s top soil contains glyphosate residues, demonstrating the persistence of this harmful herbicide chemical. Soil samples in the UK were some of the most polluted. Next week, the EU parliament will vote on whether to relicense glyphosate.