Pea Bruchid Update with Dr Becky Howard

Pea Bruchid Update with Dr Becky Howard

From Inside the Pod by PGRO

January 30, 2026 · 17 min · Season 1 · Episode 46

About this episode

Dr. Becky Howard discusses the detection of pea bruchid beetle in the UK and the collaborative efforts to manage its spread.

Pea bruchid beetle was detected for the first time in peas harvested in the UK in 2025. The AIC, BSPB, NFU and PGRO are working together to identify mitigations and minimise the risk of spread from the two sites in Landbeach, Cambridgeshire and Stubton, Lincolnshire. Having been confirmed post-harvest on both sites, the crops were removed and fumigated. However, due to the risk of mature beetles overwintering in the local area we have identified the need to establish a voluntary restriction zone within which we ask that growers abstain from planting pea crops in 2026. In the intermediary, establishment of catch crops and ongoing monitoring will be undertaken at the sites for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons. The two confirmed findings have raised concern within the sector, presenting challenges not only to crop integrity and yield, but also to the continued confidence of our domestic and international trading partners. If unmanaged, these issues could have detrimental consequences for market access, supply chain stability, and the reputation of the UK pulse industry. To access the full PGRO guidance, please visit Pea Bruchid (Bruchus pisorum) | PGRO

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Becky Howard

Topics covered

  • pea bruchid beetle
  • crop management
  • agriculture
  • UK pulse industry
  • pest control

Keywords

  • pea bruchid
  • Bruchus pisorum
  • UK agriculture
  • crop integrity
  • pest management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AIC, BSPB, NFU, PGRO

Places: Landbeach, Cambridgeshire, Stubton, Lincolnshire

More episodes of Inside the Pod

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Inside the Pod podcast page.