There has been a fuss in Europe over the last week or so over the use of a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids.\u00a0 These have just been banned due to concerns by the EU over their effect on insects, particularly bees.\u00a0 There has been an outcry from the agricultural industry saying this class of chemicals is vital to grow enough food.\u00a0 The whole row raises a number of important questions.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 They are apparently sprayed on crops even when they are not being attacked.\u00a0 Therefore the evidence that they are vital seems to be missing.\u00a0 The Coop apparently stopped them in its farms.\u00a0 Did they use something else or do without?<\/p>\n
The second question is are they oil derived?\u00a0 The answer is yes, 2).\u00a0 Despite being closely related to nicotine which is harvested from a plant these chemicals are made using oil based chemistry.\u00a0 If so they have no long term future and we will have to learn to do without.\u00a0 It part of the challenge of peak oil.<\/p>\n
The last question is are they harmful to bees.\u00a0 The jury seems to be out although there is some evidence they may be, 3).\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Is it good stewardship of God’s creation to spray something toxic around, I think not.<\/p>\n
Neil<\/p>\n
1) https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/181841\/pb13937-neonicotinoid-bees-20130326.pdf.pdf<\/p>\n
2) http:\/\/ejournal.vudat.msu.edu\/index.php\/mmg445\/article\/viewFile\/168\/116<\/p>\n
3) http:\/\/www.monbiot.com\/2013\/04\/29\/2662\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There has been a fuss in Europe over the last week or so over the use of a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids.\u00a0 These have just been banned due to concerns by the EU over their effect on insects, particularly … Continue reading