There would be a combination of several factors behind the dying of bees around the world, and not the use of some pesticides, as Europe claims. This was revealed by a study conducted by the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, which accuses parasitic mites, viruses, bacteria, genetics, nutrient depletion, as well as pesticides, for the rapid decline of bees since 2006.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
There would be one combination of several factors at the origin of bee deaths around the world, and not the use of some pesticides, just as, instead, it supports Europe. A study conducted by the Department of Agriculture and by 'Environmental Protection Agency, which blames parasitic mites, viruses, bacteria, genetics, nutrient depletion, as well as pesticides, for the rapid decline of bees since 2006.
With their "Report on the National Stakeholders Conference on Honey Bee Health", the United States researchers therefore oppose the EFSA study which in January confirmed the correlation between the pesticide neonicotinoids and the constant decrease in the bee population. . Precisely on the basis of this study in recent days, Europe has voted for a two-year ban on the three substances produced by multinational companies in the sector, see Bayer and Syngenta with the applause of environmentalists around the world, starting with Greenpeace.
“The decline in bee health is a complex problem, caused by one combination of stressors ", said the administrator of theEpa Bob Perciasepe, which he classified pesticides at the bottom of the list of possible causes of the tragic situation, explaining that there is no clear evidence that they are the main cause of the collapse. "It is clear, however, that in some cases bee colonies can be severely damaged by exposure to high doses of insecticides when these compounds are used on crops," also reads report.
In short, how explains Jennifer Sass, of the Natural Resources Defense Council, although the conclusion of the government study is plausible, and it is likely that the causes of the steep decline in bee populations are indeed multiple, a limited ban on pesticides, such as the one approved by the EU, it would at least buy time to recover from the dramatic situation, while scientists look for other remedies.
“Bees are in a situation of crisis and consequently agriculture is too. All the measures that are in place now have to be taken. If you already know that neonicotinoids are part of the problem, you need to get rid of them, ”concludes (wisely) the scientist.
At least on this point there is agreement between the two environmental protection agencies.
Roberta Ragni
Read also:
- Killer pesticides: important step forward for banning in Europe
- Bees: stop killer pesticides, the Greenpeace alarm
- Neonicotinoid pesticides: sign the petition to save bees
