Neonicotinoids are the leading cause of bee extinction. But they also represent lucrative business for the Big 4, the global pesticide and seed monopolists, who made US$ 4.42 billion from neonics in 2018 and have no intention of giving them up.
The Intercept‘s investigation into the lobbying activities of Bayer and Syngenta. (1) Manipulated science and information in the service of the poison industry to ward off bans in the US agricultural system. Where systematic misuse of agrotoxics continues to exterminate bees and cause acute toxicity in ecosystems.
Neonicotinoids and bee extermination, the information
Information on the direct causal link between exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides and bee extermination emerged with scientific evidence in 2009. Just in the United States, thanks to a study commissioned by theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from two well-known entomologists, Dennis VanEngelsdrop (researcher at Penn State University) and Jeffery Stuart Pettis (former lead researcher at USDA’s Beltsville Bee Laboratory ).
VIDEO Colony Collapse Disorder. It’s pesticides, stupid!
Neonicotinoid pesticides are believed to be causing an apocalypse of bees, butterflies and other animals from insects to birds and up the food chain to large mammals. Even, it should be noted, at exposure levels below the detection thresholds of the active ingredients in the environment.
Neonicotinoids and bee extermination, the Viral Deception
Viral Deception was immediately set in motion by the notorious Corporations, which have tried their hand at diverting public attention from agrotoxics to other elements. From climate change to poor farming practices, diseases and the Varroa Destructor mite. The Bee Care Center established by Bayer, with offices in the U.S. and Germany, is a research center devoted almost exclusively to combating the dreaded mite. As well as discrediting scientific studies highlighting the role of killer pesticides.
‘Claims that neonicotinoids are responsible for the impaired health of honey bees are not supported by the weight of the scientific evidence – and there’s plenty of evidence available.(…) Many field and monitoring studies have examined the impact of neonicotinoids on honey bee health and found these products do not present a risk to honey bee colonies under realistic agricultural conditions when used properly‘ (Bayer, Separating fact from fiction, Bee Myths: Don’t Believe Everything You Hear!)
The power of money
Evil produces so much profit that corporations can invest enormous resources to drown information in Viral Deception. Thus, news about the dangers associated with poisons tends to disappear, on the web as well as in the mainstream media.
‘Neonicotinoid products are critically important tools for farmers, and are approved for use in more than 100 countries due to their strong safety profile when used according to label.’ (Susan Luke, Bayer Crop Science North America).
And the Big 4-while they continue testing agrotoxics on the skin of us all, including in Europe-are even standing up as champions of farmers and bees.
‘Puppet’ NGOs
‘Puppet’ NGOs are built to further the strategic interests of corporations. Bayer’s Bee Care Center is joined by Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator project. Equally suggestive in describing the essential role of pollinators for life on the planet, agriculture and biodiversity. Except neglecting to point out that the use of agrotoxics from those same corporations is the primary cause of ongoing ecocides. (2)
CropLife America, the U.S.-based lobby of global pesticide giants, itself joins the ranks of self-styled bee advocates. Once again, promoting (dis)information campaigns and programs to ‘protect’ pollinating insects. With special communication strategies, revealed by The Intercept, to make real information about neonicotinoids and pollinators disappear from the first pages of search engine results.
The purge of dissidents
The tentacles of CropLife America, as is obvious, also control government departments and agencies. Thus Jeffery Stuart Pettis-one of the authors of the study conducted by USDA in 2009) lost his position as laboratory manager after a few years. After reiterating the link between neonicotinoids and bee welfare, in 2014, during a hearing at the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture. (3)
The purge then hit Jonathan Ludgren, an entomologist at a USDA laboratory in South Dakota, who was suspended twice for ‘misconduct‘ and for violating the department’s travel regulations. Curiously enough, the measures came after the researcher released interviews and published scientific studies highlighting the negative impacts of neonicotinoids on insect health.
Scientific studies a la carte
Agrotoxics corporations-as seen in the case of the fake scientific studies on glyphosate commissioned by Bayer-exert their ‘influence’, an understatement, on public research as well. Funding and consulting assignments-often mediated by ‘puppet’ NGOs-enable the co-option of academics whose works typically garner the trust of the general public (and politics).
‘Universities have become dependent on extramural funds, entire programs are bankrolled by these pesticide companies, chemical companies‘ (Jonathan Lundgren, entomologist, independent researcher following ‘purge’ from USDA).
‘As companies are increasingly threatened by scientific findings, they search for ways to blunt any independent science that may detract from profits. One great way to do this is to co-opt scientists from public universities, who typically enjoy the public’s trust’ (Gary Ruskin, co-director of U.S. Right to Know).
Dennis VanEngelsdorp, one of two entomologists who in 2009 demonstrated the connection between neonicotinoids and bee die-offs, escaped the purge that befell his colleague Jeffery Stuart Pettis by disavowing previous research. To the point of asserting the substantial harmlessness to bees of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam on canola and corn in a 2013 study immediately taken up by Sygenta. VanEngeldorp was then enlisted in the Honey Bee Health Coalition (a research group sponsored by CropLife America, Sygenta and Bayer), and his small research institute Bee Informed Project received funding from the Project Apis m. foundation (itself funded by Bayer).
Among the ‘converts’ to neonicotinoids The Intercept also cites Steve Sheppard, an entomologist at Washington State University. Who professes independence between (Bayer) Bee Care Tour, frequent participation in publications, press conferences and initiatives (such as Healthy Hives 2020) promoted by Bayer on bee welfare.
‘It all comes down to money. Bayer is taking care of stockholders’ (Jerry Hayes, former Monsanto researcher, now editor of Bee Culture magazine)
Dario Dongo and Marina De Nobili
Notes
(1) The Pesticide Industry’s Playbook for Poisoning the Earth. The Intercept, 18.1.20, https://theintercept.com/2020/01/18/bees-insecticides-pesticides-neonicotinoids-bayer-monsanto-syngenta/
(2) Pesticides are only mentioned, between the lines, referring to the possible responsibilities of farmers for their ‘misuse‘ The misuse of agrotoxics in current agricultural practices, moreover, is systematic, as well as consonant with the sales goals of their manufacturers. As shown by a recent study of glyphosate consumption levels in GMO soybean crops in the U.S. (see https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade .it/consum-attori/glifosato-e-soia-ogm-la-grande-truffa-studio-scientifico)
(3) Instead, the chairman of that same Subcommittee, Austin Scott, received a U.S. $3500 grant from CropLife America for promoting the adoption of legislation that authorized the use of new pesticides against Varroa Destructor
Graduated in law in Trento, she follows a master's degree in food law at Roma Tre. She is passionate about food and wine, she is between culture and tradition.
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
