The Belgian Biodiversity Platform has produced a new policy brief on the effects of pesticides on Belgian bee population on behalf of FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment.
Pesticides are contributing to the rapid decline of Belgian bee populations. That's what the new policy brief “Evaluation of the effects of pesticides on Belgian bee populations” confirms. While pesticides are still being used en masse for food production, 80% of crops and wildflowers used in the EU depend to some extent on insect pollination. To curb their decline, our policy brief recommends increased assessments of pesticide exposure and their effects on pollinators, an effective data management and the uptake of alternatives to pesticides.
How pesticides harm pollinators
Pesticides are toxic substances repelling pests to protect crops. In turn, research shows that pesticides can directly lead to the loss of pollinators. Pesticides, especially insecticides, are contributing to decreasing pollinator populations by causing direct mortality or by diminishing their immunity, ability to feed or to reproduce. The effects of pesticides depend on the toxicity of the substance itself, but also on the level and duration of exposure. In addition, pollinators are likely to encounter combinations of pesticides in the field, which can result in a higher sensitivity.
Pesticides also have indirect harmful effects on pollinators. Herbicides contribute to the loss of insect pollinators such as wild bees by removing wildflowers and other weeds, impairing their capacity to find nectar or pollen, as well as nesting sites. In Belgium, this effect is heightened by the fragmented landscape and the dominance of intensive monoculture farming practices.
The consequence of the decline of bees
The loss of bees is a concerning and expensive matter. The yearly contribution of insect pollination to European agriculture is around € 15 billion, with bees (incl. honeybees, bumble bees and solitary bees) accounting for the major share of revenue. In Belgium alone, 11% of crops for human food can be attributed to pollinators. The reduction of pollination services that goes hand in hand with declining pollinator populations can undermine the ability of agriculture to feed an ever-growing human population. Urgent action is needed to reverse this trend.
Policy recommendations
A better understanding of the workings of pesticide exposure and improved practices are essential for the recovery of Belgian wild bee populations. The policy brief released today on behalf of SPF Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment has identified four actions to improve decision-making on the protection of pollinators: (1) increase the assessments of pesticide exposure at a landscape level; (2) combine approaches to evaluate the effects of pesticides on pollinators; (3) effectively manage data quality and availability; and (4) upscale the support for pollinator-friendly practices and pesticide alternatives.