"More than 40" arrests made after Greenpeace demonstration in Huddersfield
Activists targeted the Syngenta office in the West Yorkshire town earlier today
Last updated 20th May 2026
It's understood more than 40 Greenpeace activists have been arrested at a demonstration outside a chemical company in Huddersfield.
The environmental group has held a demo outside the Yorkshire HQ of Syngenta on Leeds Road, with activists blocking the entrance.
The action was in protest against the production of several pesticides, namely Hallmark, which the group says poses a threat to bees.
Nina Schrank, Greenpeace UK campaigner, said:
“Our countryside and the wildlife we love is being poisoned by pesticides made and sold by Syngenta. Just one teaspoon of the Syngenta-made pesticide, Hallmark, is enough to kill 13 million bees.
“And pesticide damage doesn’t stop at the edge of a field. These chemicals are wiping out insects, polluting rivers and causing the very foundations of our food system to crumble.
“Meanwhile, Syngenta is making billions while leaving many farmers dependent on their harmful products. That’s why we’re here today: to drag Syngenta out of the shadows and shine a light on the devastation their products are causing to wildlife as well as the threat they pose to our entire food and farming system.
“We need the government to step in, set tighter limits on pesticide use and support farmers to produce healthy food in a nature-friendly way. ”
In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: "Officers were deployed to the scene to monitor the situation and to ensure there was no wider disruption."
"A number of people were subsequently arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of offences connected to the incident."
In a statement, a spokesperson for Syngenta said: "Syngenta respects the right of Greenpeace and others to express their views and to engage in public debate on how food should be produced."
"We share the goal of protecting the environment and supporting biodiversity – although may hold different views on how best to achieve this in practice.
"Syngenta believes crop protection products play a key role in global food security.
"Farmers, be they in the UK or around the world, face a range of challenges and differing conditions, and require a range of products and technologies to support agricultural production.
"Climatic changes, pest pressures, soil types, economics - a one size fits all approach to agriculture is not viable.
"Therefore, a range of regulated tools, including crop protection products, are essential to help farmers protect yields, reduce food loss, and produce affordable, safe, food.
"Without effective crop protection, significant proportions of crops can be lost to pests, weeds, and disease, with serious consequences for food availability and cost.
"Syngenta’s commitment to the environmental performance of farming is clear. We are focused on enabling more efficient and effective agricultural production—helping farmers grow more from less land, with fewer inputs—while supporting soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience."
"This includes promoting integrated pest management practices that combine biological, cultural, and chemical methods in a balanced approach."
Syngenta also disputes Greenpeace's claim that their Hallmark is harmful to bees.