SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT: To Bee or Not To Bee

I've never been one to smother my sandwiches with honey, or any other flavoured spread for that matter, but I get a kind of 'buzz' when it comes to this nation's bee populations. (Pun very much intended!) Once upon a time, you wouldn't catch me within a hundred yards of one- possibly as a result of getting stung many years ago by a wasp in the eye- but having lived for a decade without a repeat interference, I have bee-come quite fond of them. (OK, enough with the literary fun.)

This week, the BBC released a report which detailed how the European Commission is advising member states to restrict the use of certain pesticides that are possibly harmful to bees. Earlier this month, the European Food Safety Authority unleashed findings into just how toxic the chemicals are to the insect, and the results conclusively reveal that the residue from spray has been found in pollen and nectar, especially on Oil Seed Rape and Sunflowers. "Swift, decisive action" will now be taken and it is hoped that a national set of regulations will come into place from the 1st July this year. Already, though, some UK retailers have started to withdraw some chemicals from sale, despite manufacturers such as 'Bayer CropScience' stressing the sprays can be safe if applied effectively.

But this is no new story, as I found out, when I read an article from the February 1980 National Geographic Magazine. I quote from this article, released to the public domain more than thirty years ago, that "Pesticides annually destroy or damage more than 400,000 colonies [of bees]...and some bee experts worry about a future pollination crisis". Three decades later and it is more of a population crisis than anything; the U.K especially has witnessed a bee decline and this week it has been suggested that a contributory factor 'could' be the usage of pesticides.

The article I have before me now, from 1980, almost categorically names pesticides as the culprit to so many bee deaths. Brian Ferguson, from California, tells the National Geographic Magazine that his "bees gathered pesticide-laden pollen, returned to the colony, and died." The report states that the sprays annually claim 10% of the nation's bee, so you can understand why I'm a little surprised why it has taken thirty-three years for the E.U to draft up these new regulations. There is no doubt that pesticides are essential; as my 1980 report says "the world must use pesticides to maintain high crop yields and affordable food. At the moment, there is simply no other way to farm on the scale required." Since 1980, the world population has increased by some 2 and a half billion people; surely, pesticides are required more than ever before to ensure sustainable food supply.

This week's BBC News article regards an issue that is hardly a breaking headline. Thirty years ago, the very issue on the integrity of the bee population was raised. My 1980 article here leaves readers with a rather optimistic comment: "It won't be like this forever; in fifty years, if we use our heads, our understanding will be greater and we'll be able to act more intelligently." 60% of that time has since elapsed, and still the issue is under proposal. Do I feel more sympathetic towards bees now? Possibly. Will I start using honey in my breakfast? Certainly not.