Rothamsted Research is having to pause ‘non-essential’ work, according to a letter from its director.

The government’s “Brexit freedoms bill” could see all legal protections from pesticides abolished, wildlife campaigners have warned, putting insects, wildlife and human health in danger.

When the UK officially left the EU in early 2020, no transition had been agreed for the edible insects industry and, while traders in Europe were able to continue, UK traders were not.

Edible insects have been touted as a climate change friendly source of protein for the future, but UK traders are facing difficulties.

“We culled all our insects six months ago, and just kept a few for our own consumption.”

A small business which cooks up crickets and mealworms into burgers and biscuits has been forced to cease trading after new Brexit rules have deemed the practice 'illegal' in the UK.

Industry laments a missed opportunity to put Britain at the forefront of a growing movement towards alternative protein.