Published on
On May 29th, the Day of the Honey Bee in Quebec, Équiterre, in collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation, hosted a public talk presenting the results of the most important literature review on the impacts of neonicotinoïd pesticides, that kill pollinators. The comprehensive assessment of more than 1,000 peer-reviewed reports was conducted by the international Task Force on Systemic Pesticides, an international group of 50 independent scientists.
The talk was given by Jean-Marc Bonmatin, researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Task Force vice-chair, and Madeleine Chagnon, PhD, associate professor at the Department of Biological Sciences at the Université du Québec à Montréal, who also participated to the Task Force. Watch the recording of the conference (in French).
« Although neonics represent one third of the worldwide insecticides market, very few studies have been conducted on the impacts that neonics could have on human health, compared to the large amount of studies being made on other non target species ! On over 1,000 publications on non target organisms, less than 20 examined humain health impacts of neonics » explained Jean-Marc Bonmatin.
The central role of pollinators in food production
Bees and other pollinators play a vital role in food production. They are responsible for 70 per cent of food crop pollination and one-third of what we eat. "Restricting the use of neonics is an important step to preserve and improve our food systems," said Sidney Ribaux, executive director of Équiterre.
"In Quebec, the research shows a mortality rate four times higher for bees in hives located near fields where seeds were treated with neonicotinoids," said Madeleine Chagnon, associate professor in the Université du Québec à Montréal’s Department of Biological Sciences. Chagnon also participated in the literature review and presented research on the impact of neonics in Quebec at today’s event. "This is very worrying and we need to take action quickly," she said.
Used for just about a decade, neonics have become the most widely used class of insecticide in the world, claiming 40 per cent of the global market. In Quebec, almost all grain corn and between 50 and 75 per cent of soybean seeds are treated with neonics — affecting some 600,000 hectares of crops every year. Moreover, bees aren’t the only victims. “Neonic” pesticides may harm the human brain, nervous system and hormonal system.
Canada : An encouraging step forward
On November 25th, the Ontario government became the first government in North America to announce a plan for regulations to restrict the use of seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides. Ontario has proposed reducing use of neonics by 80 per cent by 2017. It is an encouraging step forward in the growing movement to save the bees. Please help keep the momentum going by demanding action from the federal government and other provinces.
