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| Photo by BugMan50 on Flickr |
The Soil Association has presented a
time-line of the relentless waves of pesticides used in agriculture
since the birth of the 'Green Revolution' in the 1960s. As each
chemical has been introduced into our environment, a fresh wave of
destruction has unfolded.
Consider:
- In the 1960s, DDT insecticide decimated bird populations; DDT was only banned in 1983
- In the 1970s, organophosphate insecticides (originally developed as a nerve gas for the military) took their toll of aquatic wildlife; some organophosphates were only banned in 2007
- In the 1980s, pyrethroid insecticides caused untold destruction to butterflies and bees; these were banned in sheep dips in 2010, but their use continues in other areas of agriculture
- Since their introduction in the 1990s, neonicotinoid fungicidal seed treatments (which spread throughout the plant as it grows) have been disrupting bee behaviour, very likely to the point of colony collapse.
- In 2004, after five decades of use, the herbicide and endocrine disruptor atrazine was banned
- In 2012, after four decades of use, the herbicide and endocrine disruptor endosulfan was banned.
Superimposed on this toxic story, is
glyphosate herbicide, the active ingredient of Monsanto's 'Roundup'.
This weedkiller was launched in 1974 amidst the proud claim of being
the safest on the market for people, wildlife and the environment.
In the 1990s, Roundup-tolerant GM crops
hit the market and the use of the formula began to increase
exponentially on most commodity crops. Around the same time, the
patents on Roundup expired: the market and the environment were
flooded with both Roundup and cheaper formulations of glyphosate. As
time went on, agrichemical companies developed super-formulations of
glyphosate which killed more efficiently.
Within a few short years, the
year-on-year dousing with a single active chemical lead to the spread
of glyphosate-resistant weeds. Farmers first reacted to the new
menace with more concentrated and more frequent applications of
glyphosate, and then with cocktails of herbicidal mixes.
Very recently, the 'safe' image of
glyphosate and Roundup have been severely tarnished. The Institute of Science in Society has summarised an appalling list of scientific
studies suggesting health effects caused by glyphosate and its
formulations. These include insidious damage to successful
reproduction, to DNA and to nerve-cells besides endocrine disruption,
mitochondrial dysfunction, and cancer. In all studies so far,
Roundup formulae, which include agents to penetrate cells and magnify
the action of glyphosate is proving even more toxic than glyphosate
alone.
The studies cited have direct relevance
to humans and other animals. These 'other animals' damaged include
bees, our major pollinators.
Already, chronic exposure to low levels
of neonicotinoids has doubled the natural loss of foraging worker
bees, while queen bumblebee production has plummeted by 85%. What
the combined toxic effects of pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, and
glyphosate formulations on bees might be has not been studied, but
their contribution to the current catastrophic collapse of bee
colonies around the world must be taken seriously.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Inform yourself about glyphosate.
Check out the Institute of Science in
Society's Special Report on 'Why Glyphosate Should Be Banned.
As far back as 1946, the Soil Association was already warning of the folly of excessive and unquestioning reliance on chemicals in agriculture. In 2012, it pledged:
Check
out the Soil Association's campaign to "Keep Britain Buzzing".
And for more on the links between GM crops and dead bees, check out HONEYBEES AND TOXIC GM SEEDS - February 2012.
As far back as 1946, the Soil Association was already warning of the folly of excessive and unquestioning reliance on chemicals in agriculture. In 2012, it pledged:
“We will not rest until controls on all chemical pesticides take account of the potential impact of repeated, low doses of toxic chemicals on people and wildlife. We know agriculture can do without: the practical experience of 7,300 organic farmers farming 718,000 hectares of land are living proof that there is another way”
And for more on the links between GM crops and dead bees, check out HONEYBEES AND TOXIC GM SEEDS - February 2012.
SOURCES:
- 50 years on - help us prevent another Silent Spring, Soil Association letter, October 2012
- Keep Britain Buzzing, Soil Association leaflet, 2012
- Why Glyphosate Should Be Banned, Institute of Science in Society Special Report, 10.10.12
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