Is Monsanto Killing the Bees?

Is

MONSANTO

KILLING THE BEES?



May 15, 2013



EUROPE PLACES TWO-YEAR BAN ON GENETICALLY

ENGINEERED CORN INSECTICIDES, STILL LEGAL IN U.S.



In the past 5 years, honeybees worldwide have suffered a

dramatic population decline, including a loss of 30% of

American bees. This winter saw an unprecedented number

of losses, with U.S. beekeepers reporting the death toll as

high as 50%.



45%



36

34

32

30

29

18



acceptable limit: 15%



5-10%



before 2005 2005/06 last winter







Many agricultural crops depend on bee pollination to survive, as do the people and animals that eat those crops. The United Nations reports that of the ioo crop species that provide 90% of the world���s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.



ﾊﾗﾓOf the 1oo crop species that provide 90% of the

world���s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.���



UNITED NATIONS REPORT



The recent mass bee deaths, known as colony collapse disorder, have been linked to a widelyﾊﾗﾔused class of insecticide called neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are incorporated into, among others, Monsanto genetically

engineered corn, which makes up over 80% of all U.S. corn.



As Monsanto and the pesticide industry continue to dispute the link, more and more scientists and beekeepers are citing the growing mishmash of chemical pest control buildup in the environment as a major factor in colony collapse disorder, singling out neonicotinoids in particular.



ﾊﾗﾓThis is the biggest general threat to our

food supply.ﾊﾗﾝ

KEVIN HACKETT, USDA



Following the European Food Safety Authority���s assessment that neonicotinoids pose an unacceptably high risk to bees, Europe banned the use of neonicotinoids in April 2013. EFSA also stated that the current science evaluating the safety of neonicotinoids, which was industry���sponsored research, may have been flawed.



Neonicotinoids are still legal and unregulated in the U.S. Furthermore, in

a controversial recent move Monsanto bought out Beelogic, the United

States��� leading provider of research and investigation concerning bees.



90% 100% - pollinator dependent

pollinator dependent



Monsanto enjoys an unregulated monopoly on American agriculture in the form of genetically engineered seeds, and the chemical pesticides and insecticides they are engineered to depend on. No longﾊﾗﾔterm studies on the risks of these products to human health and the environment have been done. IS MONSANTO KILLING THE BEES? May 15, 2013 EUROPE PLACES TWO-YEAR BAN ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORN INSECTICIDES, STILL LEGAL IN U.S. In the past 5 years, honeybees worldwide have suffered a dramatic population decline, including a loss of 30% of American bees. This winter saw an unprecedented number of losses, with U.S. beekeepers reporting the death toll as high as 50%. 45% 36 32 34 29 18 acceptable limit: 15% 5-10% before 2005 2005/06 last winter Many agricultural crops depend on bee pollination to survive, as do the people and animals that eat those crops. The United Nations reports that of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees. "Of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees." UNITED NATIONS REPORT The recent mass bee deaths, known as colony collapse disorder, have been linked to a widely-used class of insecticide called neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are incorporated into, among others, Monsanto genetically engineered corn, which makes up over 80% of all U.S. corn. As Monsanto and the pesticide industry continue to dispute the link, more and more scientists and beekeepers are citing the growing mishmash of chemical pest control buildup in the environment as a major factor in colony collapse disorder, singling out neonicotinoids in particular. "This is the biggest general threat to our food supply." KEVIN HACKETT, USDA Following the European Food Safety Authority's assessment that neonicotinoids pose an unacceptably high risk to bees, Europe banned the use of neonicotinoids in April 2013. EFSA also stated that the current science evaluating the safety of neonicotinoids, which was industy- sponsored research, may have been flawed. Neonicotinoids are still legal and unregulated in the U.S. Furthermore, in a controversial recent move Monsanto bought out Beelogic, the United States' leading provider of research and investigation concerning bees. 100% 90% Pollinator dependent pollinator dependent Monsanto enjoys an unregulated monpoly on American agriculture in the form of gentically engineered seeds, and the chemical pesticides and insecticides they are engineered to depend on. No long-term studies on the risks of these products to human health and the environment have been done.