Farming Today

The long-awaited research on neonicotinoids

Farming Today

Neonicotinoids harm honey bees and wild bees according to a new study. Charlotte Smith hears from those who dispute its findings, including the companies that paid for it. "Neonics", as they're known, are controversial pesticides and concerns over their effects on pollinators - in particular bees - led in 2013 to a ban on using neonics on flowering crops across Europe. Professor Richard Pywell who led the study explains how and why the results vary. Dr Peter Campbell from Syngenta, which is one of the companies that funded the work, is asked whether he wishes they hadn't bothered. There's also the perspective of Michael Gove, and Guy Smith, Vice President of the National Farmers' Union and Matt Shardlow, Chief Executive of Buglife discuss their varying interpretations of the results and what it means for bees and for farmers. Producer: Toby Field.

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📆 2017-06-24 02:00 / 00:24:59