Pesticide Usage in Scotland: Soft Fruit Crops 2022

This publication presents information from a survey of pesticide use on Soft Fruit Crops in Scotland during 2022.


2022 Pesticide usage

All strawberries (protected and non-protected crops)

  • An estimated 1,226 hectares of strawberries were grown in Scotland in 2022 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation). This consists of 37 ha of non-protected crop and 1,190 ha of protected crop
  • Almost all of the crop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 9 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 28,001 treated hectares with 7,863 kilograms of pesticide applied in total (see summary table)
  • Strawberry crops received on average 18.5 applications (Table 1). These included 9.9 biological applications, 8.7 fungicide applications and 3.5 insecticide applications (applied to 77, 99 and 86 per cent of the crop area). They also received on average 2.4 physical control, 1.3 herbicide/desiccant and 1.2 molluscicide applications (applied to 13, 18 and 20 per cent respectively)
  • Ten per cent of strawberries encountered in the sample were under one year old, 77 per cent were between one and two years old, five per cent were over two years old with the remainder unknown
  • Sixty-eight per cent of the crop sampled was grown in a raised or table top system. Fifty-eight per cent of the crop sampled was grown in bags, 32 per cent was grown in soil and three per cent in troughs, with the remainder unknown
  • Fifty-nine per cent of the crop sampled was grown using a ground mulch or straw
  • Ninety-eight per cent of the crop sampled was grown under protection, of this 45 per cent was in permanent tunnels and 53 per cent was in temporary tunnels
  • Pollinators were used on 90 per cent of the strawberry crop sampled. Of the area using pollinators, 57 per cent used bumble bees, 11 per cent used honey bees and 22 per cent used both bumble bees and honey bees
  • All of the strawberry crops surveyed were harvested in 2022. Ninety-eight per cent were for fresh market, one per cent for pick-your-own and less than one per cent for processing
  • The most common varieties encountered were Magnum, Malling Centenary and Murano (accounting for 25, 22 and 18 per cent of the sample area respectively)
Summary of pesticide use on all strawberries:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Fungicides 12,873 6,771 99 Difenoconazole/ fluxapyroxad (1,639), cyprodinil/fludioxonil (1,343)
Biological control agents 7,086 [z] Neoseiulus cucumeris (2,980)
Insecticides/ acaricides 4,270 323 86 Spirotetramat (1,134), lambda-cyhalothrin (883), spinosad (617)
Biopesticides 2,531 468 Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (1,618)
Herbicides 563 138 18 Carfentrazone-ethyl (258)
Physical control 384 121 13 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (220), carbonic acid diamide/urea (164)
Molluscicides 294 43 20 Ferric phosphate (294)
All pesticides 28,001 7,863 100

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 9 Use of pesticides on all strawberry crops (percentage of total area treated with formulations) - 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on all strawberry crops in 2022 where fungicides account for 46% of the treated area, biological control agents 25%, insecticides/acaricides 15%, biopesticides 9%, herbicides and physical control 2% each and molluscicides 1%.

Non-protected strawberries

  • An estimated 37 hectares of non-protected strawberry were grown in Scotland in 2022 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation). This included an estimated one hectare recorded in the mixed and other soft fruit section of the census
  • Ninety-eight per cent of the crop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 10 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 255 treated hectares with 124 kilograms of pesticide applied in total (see summary table below)
  • The 98 per cent of non-protected strawberry crop treated with a pesticide received on average 4.9 spray applications (Table 1). These included 3.5 fungicide applications, 2.1 herbicide/desiccant applications and 1.4 insecticide applications (applied to 98, 42 and 35 per cent of the crop respectively). Molluscicides were applied to 22 per cent of the crop averaging one application over the season
  • The most common varieties encountered were Symphony and Solero, accounting for 37 and 32 per cent of the sample area respectively
Summary of pesticide use on non-protected strawberries:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Fungicides 188 86 98 Cyprodinil/fludioxonil (41), potassium hydrogen carbonate (34)
Herbicides 41 37 42 Isoxaben (13), pendimethalin (11)
Insecticides/ acaricides 17 <0.5 35 Lambda-cyhalothrin (9)
Molluscicides 8 1 22 Ferric phosphate (8)
All pesticides 255 124 98
Figure 10 Use of pesticides on non-protected strawberries (percentage of total area treated with formulations) - 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on non-protected strawberries in 2022 where fungicides account for 74% of the treated area, herbicides 16 %, insecticides/acaricides 7% and molluscicides 3%.

Protected strawberries

  • An estimated 1,190 hectares of protected strawberry were grown in Scotland in 2022 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation), including 39 hectares of multi-cropping
  • Based on the ratio encountered in the sample, it is estimated that 50 per cent of the crop was semi-protected (grown under temporary tunnels) and 50 per cent permanently protected (grown in permanent tunnels or glasshouses)
  • All of the crop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 11 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 27,746 treated hectares with 7,739 kilograms of pesticides applied in total (see summary table below)
  • Protected strawberry crops received on average 18.9 pesticide applications (Table 1). These included 9.9 biological applications, 8.8 fungicide applications, 3.5 insecticide applications, 2.4 physical control applications, 1.3 herbicide/desiccant applications and 1.2 molluscicide applications (applied to 80, 99, 88, 13, 17, and 20 per cent of the crop respectively)
  • The most common varieties encountered were Magnum and Malling Centenary, accounting for 26 and 22 per cent of the sample area respectively
Summary of pesticide use on protected strawberries:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Fungicides 12,685 6,685 99 Difenoconazole/ fluxapyroxad (1,630), cyprodinil/fludioxonil (1,302)
Biological control agents 7,086 [z] Neoseiulus cucumeris (2,980)
Insecticides/ acaricides 4,252 323 88 Spirotetramat (1,134), lambda-cyhalothrin (874), spinosad (617)
Biopesticides 2,531 468 Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (1,618)
Herbicides 522 102 17 Carfentrazone-ethyl (258)
Physical control 384 121 13 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (220), carbonic acid diamide/urea (164)
Molluscicides 286 41 20 Ferric phosphate (286)
All pesticides 27,746 7,739 100

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 11 Use of pesticides on protected strawberries (percentage of total area treated with formulations) - 2022
: Pie chart of pesticide treated area on protected strawberries in 2022 where fungicides account for 46% of the treated area, biological control agents 26%, insecticides/acaricides 15%, biopesticides 9%, herbicides 2% and physical control and molluscicides 1% each.

All raspberries (protected and non-protected crops)

  • An estimated 243 hectares of raspberries were grown in Scotland in 2022 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation). This consisted of 92 hectares of non-protected crops and 152 hectares of protected crop
  • Eighty-nine per cent of the crop was treated with a pesticide (See Figure 12 for the types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 2,192 treated hectares with 742 kilograms of pesticides applied in total (see summary table)
  • The 89 per cent of raspberry crop treated with a pesticide received on average 8.9 pesticide sprays (Table 1). These included 5.1 biological applications, 3.8 fungicide applications, 2.2 physical control applications, 1.6 insecticide applications and 1.1 herbicide/desiccant applications (applied to 49, 86, 34, 84 and 53 per cent of the crop respectively)
  • Fifty per cent of the raspberries encountered in the sample were under two years old, 23 per cent were between two and five years old and 15 per cent were over five years old. The age of the remainder (12 per cent) was unknown
  • Eighty-four per cent of the crop sampled was grown in pots and 16 per cent was grown directly in the soil
  • Seventy-seven per cent of the crop encountered was grown using a ground mulch
  • Seventeen per cent of the raspberry crop sampled was grown outdoors, 33 per cent were in temporary tunnels and 50 per cent was grown under permanent tunnels
  • Pollinators were used on 95 per cent of the raspberry crops surveyed. Of the sample area using pollinators, 50 per cent were bumble bees, 22 per cent were honeybees and 23 per cent used both bumble bees and honey bees
  • Ninety-nine per cent of the raspberry crops surveyed were harvested in 2022. Eighty-three per cent were for fresh market, 16 per cent for processing and one per cent for pick-your-own
  • The most common variety encountered was Glen Ample, accounting for 35 per cent of the sample area
Summary of pesticide use on all raspberries:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Fungicides 897 482 86 Boscalid/pyraclostrobin (186)
Biological control agents 443 [z] Amblyseius andersoni (137)
Insecticides/ acaricides 330 101 84 Deltamethrin (182)
Physical control 180 52 34 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (110), carbonic acid diamide/urea (69)
Herbicides 174 86 53 Propyzamide (69)
Biopesticides 168 21 Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (135)
All pesticides 2,192 742 89

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 12 Use of pesticides on all raspberry crops (percentage of total area treated with formulations) - 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on all raspberry crops in 2022 where fungicides account for 41% of the treated area, biological control agents, 20%, insecticides/acaricides 15% and physical control, herbicides and biopesticides 8% each.

Non-protected raspberries

  • An estimated 92 hectares of non-protected raspberries were grown in Scotland in 2022 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation). This included an estimated one hectare recorded in the mixed and other crop category in the census
  • Seventy-one per cent of the crop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 13 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 502 treated hectares with 198 kilograms of pesticide applied in total (see summary table below)
  • Glen Ample was the most common named variety encountered, accounting for 93 per cent of the area sampled
Summary of pesticide use on non-protected raspberries:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Fungicides 365 160 70 Boscalid/pyraclostrobin (123)
Herbicides 73 37 68 Propyzamide (62)
Insecticides/ acaricides 65 1 71 Deltamethrin (57)
All pesticides 502 198 71

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 13 Use of pesticides on non-protected raspberries (percentage of total area treated with formulations) – 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on non-protected raspberries in 2022 where fungicides account for 73% of the treated area, herbicides 14% and insecticides/acaricides 13%.

Protected raspberries

  • An estimated 152 hectares of protected raspberries were grown in Scotland in 2020 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation)
  • Based on the ratio encountered in the sample, it is estimated that 65 per cent of the crop was semi-protected (grown under temporary tunnels) and 35 per cent was permanently protected (grown in permanent tunnels or glasshouses)
  • More than ninety-nine per cent of the crop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 14 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 1,690 treated hectares with 545 kilograms of pesticides applied in total (see summary table below)
  • The protected raspberry crop received on average 9.8 pesticide applications (Table 1). These included 5.1 biological applications, 3.5 fungicide applications, 2.2 physical control applications, 1.8 insecticide applications, and 1.1 herbicide/desiccant applications (applied to 78, 95, 54, 91 and 43 per cent of the crop respectively)
  • The most common varieties encountered were Driscoll’s Maravilla and Lagorai (24 per cent each) followed by Glen Ample accounting for 22 per cent of the sample area
Summary of pesticide use on protected raspberries:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Fungicides 533 323 95 Fenhexamid (169)
Biological control agents 443 [z] Amblyseius andersoni (137)
Insecticides/ acaricides 265 101 91 Deltamethrin (125)
Physical control 180 52 54 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (110), carbonic acid diamide/urea (69)
Biopesticides 168 21 Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (135)
Herbicides 101 49 43 Carfentrazone-ethyl (42)
All pesticides 1,690 545 99

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 14 Use of pesticides on protected raspberries (percentage of total area treated with formulations) – 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on protected raspberries in 2022 where fungicides account for 31% of the treated area, biological control agents 26%, insecticides/acaricides 16%, physical control 11 %, biopesticides 10% and herbicides 6%.

Blackcurrants

  • The total estimated area of blackcurrants grown in Scotland in 2022 was 311 hectares (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation). This includes one hectare which was included in the mixed and other soft fruit census category
  • Ninety-seven per cent of the cop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 15 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 3,807 treated hectares with 3,921 kilograms of pesticide applied in total (see summary table below)
  • The blackcurrant crop treated with a pesticide received on average 9.0 pesticide applications (Table 1). These included 6.1 fungicide applications, 3.1 insecticide applications, 1.8 herbicide/desiccant applications and 1.3 sulphur applications (applied to 91, 95, 94 and 91 per cent of the crop respectively)
  • The most common variety encountered was Ben Starav, accounting for 33 per cent of the area sampled followed by Ben Klibreck at 29 per cent
  • Seventy-three per cent of blackcurrants encountered were five years old or less, eight per cent were between six and 10 years old and below one per cent were older than 10 years with the remainder (19 per cent) unknown
  • All blackcurrant crops sampled were grown in soil without protection
  • Ninety-seven per cent of the blackcurrant crops surveyed were harvested in 2022
  • Over ninety-nine per cent of the blackcurrant crops harvested were for processing, and under one per cent for fresh market and pick-your-own
Summary of pesticide use on blackcurrants:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Fungicides 1,524 686 91 Boscalid/pyraclostrobin (559)
Herbicides 948 342 94 Glyphosate (289)
Insecticides/ acaricides 956 57 95 Spirotetramat (343)
Sulphur 373 2,838 91 [z]
Physical control 7 [z] 2 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (7)
All pesticides 3,807 3,923 97

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 15 Use of pesticides on blackcurrants (percentage of total area treated with formulations) – 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on blackcurrants in 2022 where fungicides account for 40% of the treated area, herbicides 25%, insecticides/acaricides 25%, sulphur 10% and physical control less than 0.5%.

All other soft fruit crops (protected and non-protected crops)

  • An estimated 418 hectares of other soft fruit was grown in Scotland in 2022 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation). This consists of 157 hectares of non-protected crop and 261 hectares of protected crop
  • The crops encountered in this category were blueberry, blackberry, gooseberry, honeyberry and redcurrant as well as minor crops; elderberry, loganberry, saskatoon and tayberry
  • Sixty-eight per cent of the other soft fruit crop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 16 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 2,028 treated hectares with 466 kilograms of pesticide applied in total (see summary table below)
  • The area of the crop treated with a pesticide received on average 6.7 pesticide applications (Table 1). These included 5.2 biological applications, 3.1 fungicide applications, 1.6 insecticide applications, 1.2 physical control applications and 1.1 herbicide/desiccant applications, (applied to 32, 46, 63, 26 and 28 per cent of the crop respectively)
  • Forty-three per cent of other soft fruit crops sampled were five years old or less, 24 per cent were six to 10 years old, six per cent were over 10 years old and 27 per cent of the crop were an unknown age
  • Forty per cent of the other soft fruit crops surveyed was grown in the soil and 57 per cent was grown in pots. Three per cent were grown in bags and troughs
  • Eighteen per cent of the crop was grown outdoors, 54 per cent was grown under temporary tunnels and 28 per cent was grown under permanent protection
  • Eighty-five per cent of the sampled crop was grown using a ground mulch
  • Pollinators were used on 87 per cent of the other soft fruit crops sampled and thirteen per cent used no pollinators. Of the sample area using pollinators, 37 per cent were bumble bees, 38 per cent were both bumble bees and honey bees and 12 per cent were honey bees
  • Ninety-six per cent of the crops surveyed were harvested in 2022. Of the crops harvested, 92 per cent was for fresh market, seven per cent was for processing and one per cent was for pick-your-own
Summary of pesticide use on all other soft fruits:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Biological control agents 634 [z] Steinernema kraussei (509)
Fungicides 602 358 46 Fenhexamid (222)
Insecticides/ acaricides 433 31 63 Spinosad (246)
Physical control 137 9 26 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (126), carbonic acid diamide/urea (11)
Herbicides 135 24 28 Carfentrazone-ethyl (97)
Biopesticides 82 21 Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (40)
Sulphur 6 23 1 [z]
All pesticides 2,028 466 68

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 16 Use of pesticides on all other soft fruit crops (percentage of total area treated with formulations) - 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on all other soft fruit crops where biological control agents account for 31% of the treated area, fungicides 30%, insecticides/acaricides 21 %, physical control and herbicides 7% each, biopesticides 4% and sulphur less than 0.5%.

Non-protected other soft fruit crops

  • An estimated area of 157 hectares of non-protected other soft fruit crops were grown in Scotland in 2022 (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation)
  • The crops encountered in this category were blueberry, gooseberry, honeyberry and redcurrant as well as minor crops; elderberry, loganberry, saskatoon and tayberry
  • Twenty-two per cent of the crop was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 17 for the types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 89 treated hectares with 29 kilograms of pesticide applied in total (see summary table below)
  • The treated area of the non-protected other soft fruit crop received on average 2.2 pesticide applications (Table 1). These applications included 1.4 insecticide applications and 1.3 herbicide/desiccant applications (applied to 14 and 11 per cent of the crop area)
Summary of pesticide use on non-protected other soft fruit:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Insecticides/ acaricides 31 1 14 Lambda-cyhalothrin (25)
Herbicides 28 17 11 Glyphosate (15)
Fungicides 26 12 4 Boscalid/pyraclostrobin (5), cyprodinil/fludioxonil (5), myclobutanil (5)
Physical control 3 [z] 2 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (3)
All pesticides 89 29 22

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 17 Use of pesticides on non-protected other soft fruit crops (percentage of total area treated with formulations) - 2022
: Pie chart of pesticide treated area on non-protected other soft fruit crops in 2022 where insecticides/acaricides account for 36% of the treated area, herbicides 32%, fungicides 29% and physical control 3%.

Protected other soft fruit crops

  • The total estimated area of protected other soft fruit crops in 2022 was 261 hectares (based on June 2021 Census areas – see changes from previous years section for further explanation). It is estimated that 80 per cent of the crop was semi-protected (grown under temporary tunnels) with 20 per cent grown under permanent tunnels or glasshouses
  • The crops encountered in this category were blueberry, blackberry and redcurrants
  • Ninety-six per cent of the crop area was treated with a pesticide (see Figure 18 for types of pesticides used)
  • Pesticide formulations were applied to 1,939 treated hectares with 437 kilograms of pesticide applied in total (see summary table below)
  • The protected other soft fruit crop received on average 7.3 pesticide applications (Table 1). These applications included 5.2 biological applications, 3.1 fungicide applications, 1.6 insecticide applications, 1.2 physical control applications and one application of herbicide/desiccant (applied to 52, 71, 93, 41 and 37 per cent of the crop)
Summary of pesticide use on protected other soft fruits:
Pesticide group Formulation area treated Weight of pesticides applied Percentage of crop treated Most used formulations
ha kg % ha
Biological control agents 634 [z] Steinernema kraussei (509)
Fungicides 576 346 71 Fenhexamid (220)
Insecticides/ acaricides 402 30 93 Spinosad (242)
Physical control 134 9 41 Unspecified physical control agents(1) (123)
Herbicides 106 7 37 Carfentrazone-ethyl (95)
Biopesticides 82 21 Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 (40)
Sulphur 6 23 2 [z]
All pesticides 1,939 437 96

(1) Refer to Appendix 3 for definitions.

Note: some shorthand is used in this table: [z] = not applicable.

Figure 18 Use of pesticides on protected other soft fruit crops (percentage of total area treated with formulations) - 2022
Pie chart of pesticide treated area on protected other soft fruit crops in 2022 where biological control agents account for 33% of the treated area, fungicides 30%, insecticides/acaricides 21%, physical control 7%, herbicides 5%, biopesticides 4% and sulphur less than 1%.

Contact

Email: psu@sasa.gov.scot

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