![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spiralsheep2010-12-22 01:36 pm
Bee news (some US-centricity)
Bee-pocalypse news. There's an article at BBC News online about a biological treatment being developed to help honeybees against a parasite BUT that won't stop agribusiness poisoning bees and governments knowingly allowing it. Full article archived below:
EPA Document Shows It Knowingly Allowed Pesticide That Kills Honey Bees
By Ariel Schwartz, Fri Dec 10, 2010
The world honey bee population has plunged in recent years, worrying beekeepers and farmers who know how critical bee pollination is for many crops. A number of theories have popped up as to why the North American honey bee population has declined--electromagnetic radiation, malnutrition, and climate change have all been pinpointed. Now a leaked EPA document reveals that the agency allowed the widespread use of a bee-toxic pesticide, despite warnings from EPA scientists.
The document, which was leaked to a Colorado beekeeper, shows that the EPA has ignored warnings about the use of clothianidin, a pesticide produced by Bayer that mainly is used to pre-treat corn seeds. The pesticide scooped up $262 million in sales in 2009 by farmers, who also use the substance on canola, soy, sugar beets, sunflowers, and wheat, according to Grist.
( Full text of article for archiving purposes. )
Clothianidin has already been banned by Germany, France, Italy, and Slovenia for its toxic effects. So why won't the EPA follow? The answer probably has something to do with the American affinity for corn products. But without honey bees, our entire food supply is in trouble.
spiralsheep's additional links:
1. A more detailed article at Grist.
2. More at Fast Company.
EPA Document Shows It Knowingly Allowed Pesticide That Kills Honey Bees
By Ariel Schwartz, Fri Dec 10, 2010
The world honey bee population has plunged in recent years, worrying beekeepers and farmers who know how critical bee pollination is for many crops. A number of theories have popped up as to why the North American honey bee population has declined--electromagnetic radiation, malnutrition, and climate change have all been pinpointed. Now a leaked EPA document reveals that the agency allowed the widespread use of a bee-toxic pesticide, despite warnings from EPA scientists.
The document, which was leaked to a Colorado beekeeper, shows that the EPA has ignored warnings about the use of clothianidin, a pesticide produced by Bayer that mainly is used to pre-treat corn seeds. The pesticide scooped up $262 million in sales in 2009 by farmers, who also use the substance on canola, soy, sugar beets, sunflowers, and wheat, according to Grist.
( Full text of article for archiving purposes. )
Clothianidin has already been banned by Germany, France, Italy, and Slovenia for its toxic effects. So why won't the EPA follow? The answer probably has something to do with the American affinity for corn products. But without honey bees, our entire food supply is in trouble.
spiralsheep's additional links:
1. A more detailed article at Grist.
2. More at Fast Company.