Review of Bee Health

2013 EPA Pollinator Summit Consensus: Bee Health Decline Is Caused By Multiple Factors

March 7, 2013

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosted the 2013 Pollinator Summit on March 5, 2013.  The Summit provided a forum for stakeholders and government officials to discuss opportunities and methods to improve the health of pollinators, particularly honey bees.

A major theme throughout the summit was that bee health decline can be attributed to numerous factors.  As noted by several panelists (including Jeff Pettis of USDA), of the multi-factors causing bee health decline, the varroa mite poses one of the greatest threats to honey bees.  A major goal of the summit was to examine new techniques to limit honeybee exposure to threats such as disease, pests, dust, and incidental pesticide exposure.

During the morning session, Bill Hairston discussed a new seed application that is designed to reduce dust during plantings.  Talc and graphite are commonly used as a lubricant in seed planters to reduce friction, reduce seed abrasion, and improve seed uniformity.  Unfortunately, talc and graphite create airborne dust particles that can be adverse to foraging bees.  The new technology has the ability to reduce dust exposure to bees by up to 90%.

Ray Knake discussed the improvements in seed treatments and the overall value of the technology to agriculture.  Mr. Knake opened by stating that the global food supply will need to double by 2050, and that seed treatment is a major tool to achieving this.  Mr. Knake cited the following reasons for the widespread use of seed treatments:

1. Improvements in the chemistry of seed treatment (including the chemicals applied to the seed as well as better adhesion of the additives)
2. Changes in farming practices have resulted in seeds being planted earlier in soils that are colder and wetter—seed treatments are necessary in these conditions to maximize yields.
3. Higher input costs for agriculture necessitate maximum crop production.  As such, every seed planted needs to grow, which seed treatment ensures
4. Because seed treatments are on only the seed, it limits chemical use while also protecting the seed from pest attacks during the planting stage through the early season.
5. Seed treatment is invaluable, because it is too late to rescue a plant that has been exposed to soil pests and diseases.  Seed treatments protect the plant during the early growth stages.

Mr. Knake further emphasized the value of neonicotinoid seed treatments by providing excellent pest control and also improving plant health by making plants more resistant to disease and pests.

Iowa corn farmer, Jay Lynch, gave an insightful presentation on the symbiotic relationship between farmers and beekeepers.  Mr. Lynch stated that as a farmer he works very closely with neighboring beekeepers to limit bee exposure to dust and pesticides.  Out of this relationship between Iowa farmers and beekeepers, regulations in Iowa were adopted that limited pesticide spray applications to early in the day and late in the day.  This has posed a minimum burden on farmers, and has greatly limited bee exposure.  Moreover, Mr. Lynch emphasized the impact that seed treatment has had on crop yields, while also limiting pesticide use.

On the topic of neonicotinoids in response to a question regarding the recently proposed European ban on neonicotinoids, Palle Pedersen stated that neonicotinoids are not the sole cause of bee health decline, if they are a cause at all.  Mr. Pedersen stated that the common consensus on bee health decline is multi-factor.  In fact, Mr. Pedersen added that there are many areas in the world that have heavy application of neonicotinoids in which there have been no traces of bee health decline.

In sum, the Pollinator Summit was a fruitful exchange on recent research on bee health decline, new technologies to limit risk to bees, and best practices that are being implemented to improve bee health.  The speakers presented a comprehensive approach to improving bee health rather than the hasty, unsubstantiated approach by EFSA which simply appoints neonicotinoids as the scapegoat for bee health decline.  As affirmed by the Pollinator Summit, bee health decline is caused by multiple factors.  Recognizing this, the participants of the Summit were seeking comprehensive, practical solutions to address risks posed to bees.