New Developments in Preventing Colony Collapse Disorder

"Europe Restricts 3 Common Used Pesticides in Effort to Protect Honeybees"
by Richard Van Noorden
via Scientific American

Bees are essential to the world as we know it. They are responsible for the pollination of plants, which produce a vast quantity of food for human populations. Recently, a large amount of honeybee hives have suffered what is known is the Colony Collapse Disorder, which essentially is the disappearance of entire beehives. The cause of this is still unknown, but some researchers hypothesize that pesticides are the likely causes. This has resulted in the European Commission's ban on 3 neonicotinoids pesticides including clothianidin, imidaclioprid, and thiamethoxam. The European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy  Tonio Borg, has claimed that he will, "do [his] utmost to ensure that our bees, which are so vital to our ecosystem and contribute over €22 billion annually to European Agriculture, are protected." Several laboratory studies have concluded there is a link between these chemicals and the honeybee disappearance, resulting in this precautionary ban, which will last two years. There is a lot of controversy over this decision  Many people worry about the effects of the ban on agriculture, and the effect the ban on popular pesticides will have on food production and economics. Also, some scientists are concerned that a two year period will not be sufficient to determine if these pesticides really did cause Colony Collapse Disorder. 

Overall, this is a fascinating development in the efforts to combat this important disorder, which is wreaking ecological and economic havoc. Personally, I think that this ban is wise; it is a good idea to take preventative measures based on several studies, in the hopes that bees will stop disappearing before their populations dwindle to unrecoverable levels. Bees are essential to agricultural economic success, as well as maintaining the established equilibrium in ecosystems. However, I do think that this ban could have negative effects on farmers, who depend on these commonly used pesticides for their business.  In conclusion, this controversial decision has left Europe divided into those who view this as an ecologic victory, and those who fear for the farmers.