There has been a fuss in Europe over the last week or so over the use of a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids. These have just been banned due to concerns by the EU over their effect on insects, particularly bees. There has been an outcry from the agricultural industry saying this class of chemicals is vital to grow enough food. The whole row raises a number of important questions. First should these neonicotinoids be routinely flung around (oil seed rape seed has them routinely coated on it-why insects don’t generally fly around under the ground?), 1). They are apparently sprayed on crops even when they are not being attacked. Therefore the evidence that they are vital seems to be missing. The Coop apparently stopped them in its farms. Did they use something else or do without?
The second question is are they oil derived? The answer is yes, 2). Despite being closely related to nicotine which is harvested from a plant these chemicals are made using oil based chemistry. If so they have no long term future and we will have to learn to do without. It part of the challenge of peak oil.
The last question is are they harmful to bees. The jury seems to be out although there is some evidence they may be, 3). Reference 2) cites a paper on their harm to earthworms. Basically more research needs to be done on their effects on bees since they were passed for use before this was done. Unlike the UK chief Scientist who I heard in a car crash of an interview on BBC radio 4 I believe in the precautionary principle, these and other chemicals are not sustainable in the long term (or short term) and we will have to learn to do without them safe or not. Is it good stewardship of God’s creation to spray something toxic around, I think not.
Neil
1) https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181841/pb13937-neonicotinoid-bees-20130326.pdf.pdf
2) http://ejournal.vudat.msu.edu/index.php/mmg445/article/viewFile/168/116
3) http://www.monbiot.com/2013/04/29/2662/