Can we Bee more Friendly?

 

 

 

Recent studies have shown that Neonicotinoid pesticides are effecting the Bee population. These pesticides are widely used in the UK on oilseed rape, should not be used on ‘crops attractive to honey bees’, according to the European Food Safety Authority.

  Neonicotinoids are ‘systemic’ pesticides that are applied to the plants as seed so that the crop grows up resistant to pests. It is widely used on oilseed rape, sugar beet and even ornamental plants in the UK. Chemical companies claim it is better for the environment because it means plants have to be sprayed less when they are fully grown. However environmentalists have questioned the use of the neonictinoids as studies suggest pollinators like bees "lose their way" after feeding on pollen and nectar from the plants.

Other pesticides are also under assessment including imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.

The study concluded only “uses on crops not attractive to honey bees were considered acceptable” under strict new guidelines being considered by the EU. The researchers said there needed to be “a much more comprehensive risk assessment for bees and “ a higher level of scrutiny for interpretation of field studies” before the pesticides are used on crops that are generally buzzing with pollinators.

In the UK neonicotinoids are used on around 75% of oilseed rape crops, that are often frequented by bees.

So should the UK Government should be questioning the use of the pesticides that are banned in other EU countries?

“Defra and the UK Advisory Committee on Pesticides have previously stressed their confidence in the safety of these products so they must now examine EFSA’s risk assessment carefully before deciding whether UK farmers can continue to use these chemicals on crops, such as oilseed rape.”

Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, called for a ban on neonicotinoids until further tests are done on the effect on bees.

“The clear link between neonicotinoid pesticides and declining bee health must sting the Government into action – we can’t afford to dither when it comes to protecting these key pollinators.

"Ministers must urgently remove these dangerous chemicals from sale, overhaul inadequate pesticide safety tests and ensure farmers have access to safe, effective alternatives to enable them to produce food without harming our bees.”

Although the chemical industry funded a recent report claiming that banning neonicotinoids would cost farmers £620m in lost food production. Dr Julian Little, of Bayer Crop Science, said that the new guidelines calling for a more strict risk assessment would mean very few insecticides would be able to be used: “If we are really keen on bee health, we have to deal with the problems that are clearly identified like the varroa mite. Blaming the nearest chemical is not the answer.”

 

Nevertheless these pesticides  have been linked to the dramatic collapse in bee numbers over the last decade.They are not only found on farms but many domestic gardening products on sale in hardware stores and garden centres also contain these chemicals. Because of this it seems we should remember to always check what is in the pesticides we buy, and where possible we should try and use other methods such as organic products or  try and adopt other methods such as cultural or mechanical control, biological control or environmentally sustainable practices.

 

Source: The Independent.