Bees are important pollinators which play a vital role in many diverse ecosystems. Food security is highly dependent on the activity of bees and other pollinating insects. Neonicotinoids are systemic chemicals that spread from the seed throughout the plant and disrupt the nervous system of any insect which comes into contact. The neurotoxins travel into the pollen and the nectar and can poison beneficial insects such as bees. Estimations for the LD 50 lie between 3 and 50 ng/bee. That means that 50% of the bees which consume 3-50 ng of the pesticide, all die. At even lower, sub-lethal, doses these compounds can cause bees to become disoriented, without directly killing the insect. Bees which cannot return to their hive will soon die.

The Coalition against BAYER (CBGNetwork or CBG) has launched a campaign asking the Bayer company for a total ban of neonicotinoid pesticides. According to CBG’s campaign, “Bayer managers have known the risks which neonicotinoid pesticides create for the environment since the early 1990s. The company downplayed the risks, submitted deficient studies to authorities and viewed the massive decline of honey bees and pollinators in many parts of the world as 'collateral damage'.”

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer, and special guest host, Tom Theobald, talk to Philipp Mimkes, a physicist who has been working fulltime with the Coalition for the last 18 years. We will discuss theCBG’s Campaign To Ban Neonicotinoidsand their most recent efforts. Stay tuned!