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For over a decade an international debate has raged over the causeof the global decline of honeybees. The implications of ColonyCollapse Disorder (CCD), the mysterious disease decimating honeybeepopulations, extend far past the beekeeping industry. Thehoneybee is essential to our entire agricultural system it is themaster pollinator (responsible for some 1/3 of our diet) and ifdriven to extinction, our entire ecological system will be injeopardy. Beekeepers and researchers have long been concerned thatpesticides are actually at the root of CCD and at the center ofthe debate is a neonicotinoid pesticide (or neonic ) calledclothianidin. Many European countries have taken action to limit or ban the chemical, but the UnitedStates has been slow to follow suit. In 1997, noticing the rapiddecline of their bees (and prior to the coining of the term CCD),beekeepers in France demanded that Bayer s imidacloprid pesticide Gaucho be investigated (see notes on the first study, below, for moreinfo on imidacloprid). It was partially banned in 1999; in 2008,France and Germany finally completely rejected the use ofclothianidin. In 2009 Italy also instated a ban. Since then,there have been reports that colonies are recovering in areas where neonicotinoids were banned. However, on this side of the pond things are more complicated andcontroversial. In 2003 U.S. farms began using systemic pesticidescalled neonicotinoids, including clothianidin and imidacloprid.Almost immediately, beekeepers and scientists noticed that beescontracted out to monoculture farms using the pesticides oftenappeared confused and disoriented. This behavior led to suspicionsthat the accumulation of pesticides in the honeybees might beacting as neurotoxins, interfering with their nervous or immunesystems. Unfortunately, the EPA approved the use of clothianidineven when its own scientists expressed concerns . After giving clothianidin conditional registration in 2003,the EPA asked Bayer (the company that makes the pesticide) to studyits effects on honeybees. Despite finding Bayer s studyinadequate, in 2010 the EPA granted clothianidin full registration. In just the past month, three separate independent studies havebeen released connecting bee die-offs and neonicotinoids. Here is abrief summary of what they found: Neonicotinoid Pesticide Reduces Bumble Bee Colony Growth and QueenProduction. British researchers found that when colonies are exposed toimidacloprid, another neonic pesticide, their growth rates sufferedtremendously and the rate at which they produced queen beesdeclined by 85 percent. Imidacloprid is very close in chemicalstructure to clothianidin but is less toxic. Basically, whateveraffect imidacloprid has on bees, clothianidin s affect is probablyworse. A Common Pesticide Decreases Foraging Success and Survival in HoneyBees. This French study revealed that when honeybees were exposed tothe neonic pesticide thiamethoxam, they had trouble navigatingtheir environment and could not find their way back to the hive.Obviously, this is a problem for the foraging honeybee. The studysays this could cause a hive s population to decrease bytwo-thirds. Use of Common Pesticide Linked to Bee Colony Collapse . In what may be the most convincing evidence that neonics are toblame for CCD, Harvard researchers found that 15 out of 16 hivesexposed to imidacloprid during a study died. The hives treated withthe highest level of the chemical perished first. On March 21, 2012, right before these most recent studies werereleased, 27 beekeepers and four environmental groups who werefrustrated with the lack of action on CCD filed a petition with the EPA asking the agency to take clothianidin off the marketuntil a complete, scientifically-sound review of the pesticide isconducted. These studies could finally help bring about a ban to thesedangerous pesticides and well-informed consumers can help pushfor this action by staying informed. For more information on ColonyCollapse Disorder, check out Vanishing of the Bees (read Ecocentric s review here) and Colony , fantastic films that make this important information accessibleto people of all levels of engagement. Vanishing of the Bees also offers a study guide for teachers and has partnered with organizations such as Beyond Pesticides to help bring awareness to pesticides role in this growingecological threat. There is now hope that the combined efforts ofactivists, scientists and the growing number of concerned consumerswill start to pay off and that the EPA will finally take action tohelp save the bees and restore our ecosystem s precious balance. Don t be surprised if you see some pro-chemical bee research and maybe some chemical solutions to the CCD problem —released in the near future. Last fall, Monsanto quietly acquired Beelogics , an international firm dedicated to restoring bee health andprotecting the future of insect pollination. Through continuousresearch, scientific innovation, and a focus on applicablesolutions, Beeologics is developing a line of products tospecifically address the long-term well being of the bees. Hattip to Natural News . The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Food Additives Preservatives Manufacturer , Flavor Additives Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Food Additives Thickeners today!
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