Alder Bioinsights News Review: Feedstocks Issue 158, May 2025

Foreword

A notable development within the UK is the significant downturn in rapeseed production. Projections indicate a potential reduction in output, with figures suggesting a drop to around 720,000 tonnes for the 2025/26 season. This sharp decline, a forecasted 12.6% reduction from last season’s 824,000 tonnes, has been attributed to a growing ‘disillusionment’ among farmers according to Oils & Fats International (OFI) magazine. Persistent pest pressures, particularly from the cabbage stem flea beetle, coupled with challenging weather conditions and low yields as well as unattractive prices, have led many to move away from the crop. Similarly, planted area is also expected to fall 18% from 293,000ha in 2024/25 to a record-low 240,000ha in 2025/26. Both figures are significantly below the 391,000ha planted in 2024/23. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture has noted that, with domestic production in 2024–25 expected to meet less than half of demand, the UK is likely to become increasingly dependent on rapeseed imports to supply its crushing facilities which primarily produce rapeseed oil and meal.

More widely across agriculture, the recent dry spring has raised concerns despite what was initially a promising start to the season. While autumn and winter plantings for wheat and barley were largely successful and crops overwintered well, the subsequent lack of rainfall is now a significant worry. This dry spell has the potential to hinder growth and yield for a variety of key feedstocks. The situation serves as a timely reminder of the agricultural sector’s vulnerability to climatic shifts and the importance of building resilience and adaptability within British farming systems…