Friday, October 10, 2014

Alberta not on board with neonic lawsuit

The Alberta Beekeepers Commission will not join the class-action lawsuit filed against neonicitinoids marketed by Bayer Crop Science and Syngenta.

The lawsuit was filed by Munro Honey and Sun Parlour Honey and is being promoted by the Ontario Beekeepers Association.

However, because about 45 per cent of Canada’s honey is from Alberta, it’s unlikely that national class-action lawsuit status will be granted.

The Alberta Beekeepers Commission says it prefers working with the makers of seed-treatment neonicinitoids to find a suitable solution.

It issued a statement saying it “believes the agrochemical industry recognizes the value of honeybees and other pollinators.

“We believe that working together with appropriate research , management and education of all stakeholders will ensure that modern agriculture and honeybees can coexist.”

Albertans say the pesticides used before the introduction of neonicitinoids were more damaging to bees.

Most honeybee researchers say the collapse of colonies can be caused by a number of stresses sometimes working in combination.


Among the stresses are weather conditions, mites, diseases and reduction in unfarmed acreage.