UK ministers are considering allowing the use of a pesticide known to harm bees despite a recent pledge to ban it, sparking calls for the government to uphold its promises.
Helena Horton reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- The pesticide thiamethoxam, banned in the EU, has been used in the UK under emergency authorizations since 2021.
- Environment groups urge the government to reject new applications to use it on sugar beet, citing its devastating impact on pollinators.
- Farming groups argue the pesticide is critical to protect sugar beet crops from a destructive virus.
Key quote:
“These deadly pesticides must not be used any more. It’s outrageous that British Sugar has applied for a fifth year to use bee-killing chemicals, despite an industry commitment to end reliance in 2023.”
— Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts.
Why this matters:
Bees play a crucial role in pollinating crops and maintaining ecosystems. The continued use of neonicotinoids risks further collapse of bee populations, endangering biodiversity and food production systems.
