Pesticides blamed for bee crisis

Dramatic declines in Britain’s bee population are due to the use of pesticides in intensive farming, a new report claimed this week.

Neonicotinoids, used on a variety of crops in UK but banned across much of Europe, are a “significant factor” in the drop in Britain’s bee numbers, the Soil Association and insect research body Buglife claimed in their joint report.

The two groups “brought together a number of peer-reviewed pieces of research” showing that neonicotinoids “damage the health and life cycle of bees over the long term by attacking the nervous system”.

Concerns over the chemical prompted Co-op to ban the use of neonicotinoids on its 70,000 acres of land in England and Scotland “until they are shown to be safe”.

Last year, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia banned all neonicotinoids in response to the honeybee crisis.

“Other countries have already introduced bans to prevent neonicotinoids from harming bees,” said Buglife chief executive Matt Shardlow.

“This is the most comprehensive review of the scientific evidence yet and it has revealed the disturbing amount damage these poisons can cause.”

Peter Melchett, director of the Soil Association, said: “The UK is notorious for taking the most relaxed approach to pesticide safety in the EU.

“Buglife’s report shows that this puts at risk pollination services vital for UK agriculture.”

Bumblebee conservation groups said neonicotinoids should be banned until they are proven safe as a “sensible precautionary principle”.