As a Beekeeper, I believe that we need to take a precautionary approach to Neonicotinoids even if there is not yet definitive proof of their exact role in bee deaths. There are good grounds for saying they are implicated and whilst further research is carried out, their use on bee pollinated plants should be suspended. We cannot afford to wait until we understand all the mechanisms that may be involved in a complex set of environmental relationships. Bees are vital to human food supplies and we must take a precautionary approach. New research on bumble bee colonies has demonstrated that exposure to two commonly used pesticides at once has a much greater effect than one on its own, leading to weaker colonies and even colony death.
Suspending the use of Neonicitinoids will ensure that the effort into researching their role will be given.
If you agree, I hope you will consider supporting this petition.
Bill
Researchers from Royal Holloway College at the University of London have also done research into this which has recently been published in a letter to Nature magazine.
Combined pesticide exposure severely affects individual- and colony-level traits in bees. / Gill, Richard J. ; Ramos-Rodriguez, Oscar ; Raine, Nigel E.
In: Nature, Vol. 491, 2012, p. 105-108.
You can find a summary here.
The full letter can be found here (PDF file).
38 Degrees have now handed in their petition to the government on this issue.
To see a full report of the hand-in go here:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2012/10/23/save-our-bees-petition-hand-in/
Over 75,000 people signed the petition demanding the government protect bees from harmful pesticides. And to remind DEFRA just how important bees are they presented the petition with a basket of fruit and veg - all pollinated by bees!
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