Crop protection in alternative crops

The European Union (EU) has seen a substantial increase of interest in alternative crops over recent years. Factors promoting such diversification have included Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures enabling the planting of non-food or 'industrial' crops on arable-registered land taken out of food production (i.e. set-aside) and specific subsidies for market sectors such as fibre crops. Other motivations for farmers to move into alternative crops include the falling value of conventional crops as EU support levels are diminished, and the desire to move into more market-led production sectors as advocated by recent policy reviews such as the Curry Report (Cabinet Office, 2002).