“A tightening of restrictions on the insecticides known as neonicotinoids has brought hope that the decline in honey bees and wild pollinators can be reversed. Yet concerns are growing as to how new technology could radically change the landscape. Are we heading towards a world of ‘frankenbees’, in which gene-edited bees are resistant to pesticides and where only the rich can afford to pay for pollinated crops? ” asks Mark Rowe of Geographical in this fantastic article that digs deep into the destruction of our natural eco-system with these frankenbees being presented as a solution along with detail on what appears to be an increase in the use of banned pesticides across the globe; alarmingly combine this with the introduction by companies like Bayer/Monsanto of new noenicitinoid type pesticides that are equally lethal to honey bees, but not currently on banned lists, and in essence, we are going nowhere in a solution as the money mongers of society cut corners with no regard for the balance of nature – ultimately meaning “the end of the wild world and all the beauty that is inherent in it” according to Professor Dave Goulson of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex. And the solution? Read on and bee-informed!
Image copyright: Geographical.co.uk