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Under pressure to restrict the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, the Quebec government is developing initiatives to stop the decline of bees and other pollinators, according to weekly agricultural newspaper La Terre de chez nous. The Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change is to revise pesticide requirements and set further conditions on the use of the most harmful pesticides used in farming—including neonicotinoids.
Neonics have been the subject of much discussion recently because they are likely contributing to the decline of bees. These important pollinators—essential to 70% of our crops and 35% of our food production—have an alarming mortality rate. Neonics, which are used, amongst other things, to treat seeds are directly implicated in their decline.
Last November, Ontario proposed measures to reduce the number of hectares planted with neonicotinoid-treated corn and soya 80% by 2017.
The Quebec government must act now. More than 22,000 people responded to our appeal and asked the Quebec government to stand with science and ban neonicotinoids. Join the movement: http://www.action.equiterre.org/
