Tag Archives: pollination

Neonic makers might pay for research about neonics on the land

Here in Europe, three insect-killing neonicotinoids are under a temporary ban. During the ban our UK Government is welcoming new research. It’s now become known that pesticide manufacturers might fund some of this research. Vested interests! Last year my fellow … Continue reading

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Syngenta withdraws application to use banned pesticide linked to bee harm

argylesock says… I’m not sure which neonic Syngenta wants to bring back here in Europe. Maybe all of the three which are temporarily banned: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. [Edit] Soon after this story broke, I’m feeling cynical about it. Maybe … Continue reading

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TTIP: Syngenta calls for harmonized safety standards

John Atkin is the Chief Operating Officer at the chemical and biotech giant Syngenta. Here’s a report showing an interview with Mr Atkin, in which he tells us how the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is great news. One … Continue reading

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Real impact of neonicotinoid seed dressings stays buried

A temporary European ban on three insect-killing chemicals called neonicotinoids has been in force since December 2013. These neonics are called clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. They’re used as seed dressings and soil treatments, among other things. Just after this ban … Continue reading

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Harvard study links pesticides to bee deaths

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in honeybees (Apis mellifera) can be linked with low-dose insecticides. Philip Case at the UK magazine Farmers Weekly tells us about research in the States, where CCD is a huge problem. This is a serious matter … Continue reading

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Image of the Week: Varroa Parasitic Mite

argylesock says… Varroa mites are bad news for bees. This is the third of three articles about pollinators, from the Wellcome Trust blog, which I’m passing on today.

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Feature: Protecting the pollinators part 2 – bees and disease

argylesock says… Here’s the second of three articles about pollinators, from the Wellcome Trust blog, which I’m passing on today.

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Feature: Protecting the pollinators part 1 – bees and ecology

argylesock says… We need bees and other pollinators. We really, really need them. Here’s the first of three articles about pollinators, from the Wellcome Trust blog, which I’ll pass on today.

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Revealed: the chemical blitz bees face in fields

Dave Goulson at The Conversation tells us about insecticides on British crops. Last year on oilseed rape (rapeseed, canola, Brassica napus) Prof Goulson found the neonicotinoid called thiamethoxam (which, by now, is temporarily banned), the pyrethroids called beta-cyfluthrin and alpha-cypermethrin, … Continue reading

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Pollen angels: The E.U.’s ban on bee-killing pesticides begins. Will it help?

argylesock says… Here in Europe our ban on neonics was bitterly fought. It was even opposed by our UK Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Owen Paterson. Now it’s in force but as Heather Smith says in … Continue reading

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