You may have heard all the hype about GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) but the latest buzz is about a new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids.
What’s all the Buzz About?
Bees, the most important pollinators, are needed in growing many foods, but with the increase of neonicotinoids, these helpful little workers are increasingly dying.
Scientists now believe at least some of these pesticides play a major role in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), the ongoing demise of honeybee colonies.
Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine. This toxin is not only killing a great population of bees, but is also harmful to birds, fish and wildlife, and potentially humans, as well.
“Bee” a Part of the Action
Since bees are necessary for growing the food we eat, their soaring death rate should cause alarm and compel us to action.
Annual bee losses of 5 percent to 10 percent once were the norm for beekeepers. But after colony collapse disorder surfaced around 2005, the losses approached one-third of all bees, despite beekeepers’ best efforts to ensure their health.
So what can you do? Make wise, ethical decisions while shopping in your supermarket. Choosing organic, non-GMO foods is not only essential for your own health, but also demonstrates your eagerness to make a difference in your community for good.
By being aware of the manufactures that use these dangerous toxins, and the politicians that endorse them, will aid you in making informed decisions. Boycotting these companies and staying involved is the next step in protecting bees, birds, fish, wildlife, the food we eat, and essentially, human health.