Native Irish Honey Bee Society – Apis mellifera mellifera

Native Irish Honey Bee Society
Apis mellifera mellifera

Who is winning the PR battle over neonicotinoids?

That ideological difference is fundamentally about the risk neonicotinoids pose to the environment, with some environmentalists fearing they could wipe out bees entirely, while agrichemical companies say their responsible use is harmless and stoke fears about food security and the inability to feed a growing world population without them.

“Both extremes are complete nonsense,” says bee biologist professor Dave Goulson. “The science is pretty convincing that neonicotinoids are contributing to bees’ decline, but it’s by no means the worst factor. Most scientists agree it’s habitat loss that is the single biggest driver, with disease and pesticides contributing. Obviously, any pesticide is damaging to wildlife; it’s about finding the right balance between productivity and environmental impact.”

Read more in the Guardian

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