EU Commission Bans Bayer Pesticide That’s Harming Bees

January 30, 2020

By
Alanna Ketler

In Brief

• The Facts:Another harsh chemical has been banned in the European Union, which has been found to harm bees.
• Reflect On:Is our current method of "modern" agriculture actually an outdated practice? Is it time to start
  implementing agriculture practices that protect the planet and its inhabitants rather than harming it?

Recently, the European Commission decided to not renew the approval for a pesticide that has been linked to declining bee populations, which will effectively ban Bayer’s insecticide, thiacloprid.

If you haven’t yet heard, Bayer is effectively the GMO giant, Monsanto, as they acquired the company in September of 2016. The majority of the EU has banned other pesticides as well, essentially coming from the same company.

According to Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides,

“There are environmental concerns related to the use of this pesticide, particularly its impact on groundwater, but also related to human health, in reproductive toxicity.”

Farmers will not be allowed to use the insecticide after April 30^th of this year when it’s current approval expires. Thiacloprid is currently sold under the brands Calypso and Biscaya, both of which will be banned.

Save The Bees

This decision has come about not only after a concern for human safety, but also after realizing that this chemical not only kills insects, but also harms bees and bumblebees by weakening their immune systems, which impairs their reproduction.

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It is amazing to see such a proactive government as the EU recognizes the harm this insecticide is causing, then follows through with actually outright banning it in all European countries. This is how a government that is truly working for the people and the planet should act. Actually, to take it a step farther, these types of chemical substances realistically should not even be put to use unless they have been through rigorous testing to begin with.

Modern Agriculture

Because of the way modern agriculture has evolved, there is more need for these types of chemical pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. However, if we were to simply implement some permaculture practices, which would give life back to the soil, and grow our foods in tandem with other foods that naturally repel pests and support each other, we would have little to no use for such chemicals.

I dream of the day when governments worldwide implement some of these agricultural practices that have the capability to reverse a lot of the damage that we have done to our planet, allow the soil to repopulate with beneficial microbes and bacteria, and grow produce that is nutrient dense, organic and full of life force energy!

What Can We Do?

If you have the space for it, growing your own garden is your best bet to reclaiming the land and soil. As someone who lives in an apartment, it always surprises me when people who have the space for a garden do not utilize it! I know, not everyone has a green thumb, or the time, but–free food! How could you resist?

Next option is to shop locally whenever possible. If your town or city has a farmer’s market, that is a great place to start. By developing a relationship with the farmers, you can find out what type of growing practices they are utilizing and whether or not the food they are growing is organic, and if not, exactly what types of chemicals they are using.

You can buy organic from the grocery store as well, but many popular organic brands still practice mono-cropping, which isn’t the best for the soil. It is much better than conventional produce; however, that is often loaded with chemicals.