Fall
2015
Grains
West
30
THE POLITICS OF THE
PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
A common complaint from both sides
is that people are misusing the science
on neonics and that it’s become a “shell
game” driven by politics. The problem
stems from the nature of neonics and the
scientific studies conducted so far.
Neonics are toxic to all insects, and
that includes honeybees. Numerous
studies have shown that sublethal
exposure to neonics can permanently
impair honeybees. The effect of neonics
on bees is not in dispute. The issue
is whether current industry practices
expose bees to neonics in sufficient
quantities to affect the health of the
hives. On that score, there isn’t sufficient
research to create consensus.
“Even where there may be lingering
doubts, I think we really need to come
back to the precautionary principle,”
said Lisa Gue, senior policy analyst at
the David Suzuki Foundation. “And
the precautionary principle holds that
where there is a risk of serious harm or
irreversible harm, the lack of complete
scientific consensus can’t be an excuse to
delay action.”
It was the precautionary principle that
spurred the European Union to impose a
moratorium on neonics in 2013.
Changing agricultural policy based
on the precautionary principle does not
appeal to farmers who face potential
crop losses. A steep reduction in
neonics use will mean an increase in
crop re-plants, Brock said. It might
also mean a return to older farming
practices. Neonic seed treatment
allowed no-till farming, which meant
less soil erosion and lower emissions
from farm equipment, Brock said.
“The fear is that farmers are going
to have to protect their crops one way
or another,” said Pierre Petelle, vice-
president of chemistry at CropLife
Canada. That might mean a return to
foliar sprays, which has already been
seen in Europe.
PESTS AND PESTERING
The varroa mite, a destructive bee
parasite, is thought to be a factor in
Ontario’s losses. A large-scale study
conducted from 2008 to 2009 by
Guelph University researcher Ernesto
Guzman pointed to varroa as the
principal cause for Ontario’s 2008 winter
bee mortalities of 27 per cent. The study
did not examine pesticides as a factor in
bee mortalities.
Alberta went through a similar situation
in the winter of 2007/08, when Alberta’s
bee losses spiked to more than 30 per
THE BUZZ ON NEONICS
Neonicotinoids are a class of pesticides
first introduced in the 1990s.
• Neonics are considered by industry
to be relatively mild in their effects on
birds, mammals and fish compared to
previous pesticides.
• Neonics are toxic to all insects and kill
by binding to neuronal pathways in the
insect’s brain.
• The most commonly used neonics
are thiamethoxam, clothianidin and
imidacloprid.
The most common use of neonics in
Canada is seed treatment.
• Neonic-coated seeds are planted in
the spring.
• As the plant grows, the neonic coating
is absorbed into the plant.
• If an insect eats the plant, the neonics
kill the insect.
Neonic seed treatment was first
introduced to Canada in 2003.
• Adoption of neonic-treated seed
soared and became common industry
practice.
Worldwide, neonics now make up almost
30 per cent of the pesticide market.
• Virtually all canola seed sold in Alberta
is treated with neonics, a total of more
than six million acres in 2014.
• Nearly all of Ontario’s two million acres
of corn and 60 per cent of its three
million acres of soy are treated with
neonics.
SMOKE SIGNAL:
According to Townsend,
beekeepers need to improve their own
practices to reduce bee losses.
