Review of Bee Health

The Ideological Campaign Against Modern Agriculture Doesn’t Stop with Neonics

November 16, 2017

From: The Guardian

It’s great that Michael Gove has accepted the overwhelming scientific evidence that neonicotinoids are killing bees, other insects and birds, although it is a sad commentary on how safety decisions on pesticides have been taken up to now (Plan bee – Britain to reverse opposition to ban on colony-killing pesticide, says Gove, 9 November). The fact is that the political and economic power of the chemical industry have had far more influence than the results of independent scientific research.

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…The central idea, put forward by Mr Tuncak, that in essence our industry and the system that regulates it overlooks the potential impact of pesticides on the health of children, does a disservice to the 26,000 people who work for our industry in Europe, many of them also mothers and fathers – people who get up every day and do a job that they fundamentally believe is making a positive contribution to answering some of the major challenges we face as a society. The reality is that we are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. In Europe we can proudly say that we have access to the safest food in the world. As mothers and fathers we all devote our lives to protecting our children. Perhaps Mr Tuncak might reflect on this for his next article.

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