#insect pollination

Pollination in flowering plants is the process of moving pollen grains, which carry sperm cells, from the anthers to the stigmas of either the same flower or a separate flower. If things go well from there, sperm cells will be transported via pollen tubes into the ovaries where fertilization with egg cells can take place and seeds can form. Pollen grain development occurs within the anthers, and…

European honey bee (Apis mellifera)

October 1, 2015

Illustration by Elayne Sears, Mother Earth News

Learn about insect pollination, wind pollination and hand pollination to help you plant smarter and pull in heftier harvests. Read a blog post by Barbara Pleasant in Mother Earth News.

Throughout Europe, the severe fall in bee populations has become a serious concern, and neonicotinoid chemicals found in some pesticides are thought to be in large part responsible. The European Commission (EU) will respond by introducing a two-year moratorium on neonicotinoid based pesticides before the end of the year, as well as on the sale of neonicotinoid treated seeds for sale and use by professionals and amateur growers. The exclusion will not apply to winter cereals or non-bee-attractive crops. 

Eight countries, including the UK were against the ban (with four abstentions) which was carried on April 28; it argued the scientific research was inconclusive. Around one-third of the world’s crops are pollinated by wild species such as honey-bees, according to researchers, and opinions vary on the reason for the collapse.  Other than chemicals, experts suggest viruses and parasites such as the ‘vorroa mite’, and hive-neglect may be responsible. 

EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg stated that "the Commission will go ahead with the moratorium in the coming weeks," and claimed "I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that our bees, which are so vital to our ecosystem and contribute over 22bn euros (£18.5bn; $29bn) annually to European agriculture, are protected." A high profile ban on these chemically based set of pesticides will likely stimulate further interest in effective naturally based pesticides such as those derived from Neem trees.

Marco Contiero, Greeanpeace’s EU agricultural policy director, has said the vote "makes it crystal clear that there is overwhelming scientific, political and public support for a ban … those countries opposing a ban have failed."

Germany, France, Italy and Slovenia already have restrictions on neonicotinoids. The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) published a report in January 2013 which concluding that pollinators, including bees, are at a “high acute risk” from the pesticides, yet at times was "unable to finalize the assessments due to shortcomings in the available data." In short, while the EFSA was sure that neonicotinoids were to blame, it didn't have the scientific data which proved it.

Bees are an emotive subject and a rally took place in London before the vote, and nearly three million signatures were collected in favor of the ban. The anti-ban view, represented by the UK government and supported by the industry lobby is that the moratorium will harm food production and is based on inconclusive evidence.