An important new collaboration between some of the finest applied research organisations in England (where CSFB is most problematic) was announced today (8 September 2025) by AHDB.  CSFB Research+ will be worked on together by ADAS, Niab and Rothamsted Research.

CSFB Research+ represents AHDB's largest single investment in CSFB research, with a total project value nudging £750,000. A third of this investment is from cash and in-kind contributions from an extensive network of project partners.

The project will evaluate the field performance of novel control products, improve guidance on cultural control measures, fine-tune understanding of CSFB development, generate data on natural enemies and prime innovation in CSFB management.

Running for nearly five years, the work builds on a long-term series of AHDB- and Defra-funded projects that has dramatically improved understanding of the pest's life cycle, crop risk factors and effective cultural control strategies. It also underpinned the release of a top 10 list of CSFB management strategies earlier this year.

Sacha White, AHDB Lead Crop Protection Scientist, said: "Faced with a lack of chemistry and insecticide resistance challenges, confidence and commitment to OSR has waned, with the UK shifting from a net exporter to a net importer in recent years.

"This new research partnership project brings together passionate and knowledgeable people from across the industry – spanning farmer cooperatives, input specialists, grain merchants, food producers and applied researchers – to co-design activity that puts CSFB control firmly back into the hands of farmers."

Featuring numerous field trials and assessments, the research will:

• Examine the field performance of novel CSFB control products, such as novel insecticides/seed treatments, botanical biopesticides, entomopathogenic nematodes and synergists
• Extend the availability of cultural control methods, including the use of OSR stubble cultivation to disrupt soil-dwelling CSFB pupae and brassicas in cover crops to lure beetles away from OSR cash crops
• Improve understanding of CSFB traits to target cultural, biological and chemical control, including studying how environmental conditions influence CSFB development and migration
• Study the two main parasitoids of CSFB: Microctonus brassicae and Tersilochus microgaster (with a focus on the former), including how to encourage them
• Work in partnership to co-design activities that target research and knowledge exchange, create spaces for innovation and maximise value to levy payers

A wide range of communication channels will be used to promote results to levy payers throughout the project. Project activity will be badged under the CSFB Research+ banner to maximise visibility and to help put CSFB knowledge into practice.

For the latest project information, visit ahdb.org.uk/csfb-research (or search for 'CSFB Research+').