[ExI] Scientists discover what’s killing the bees and it’s worse than you thought

[BillK]

In a first-of-its-kind study published today in the journal PLOS ONE,
scientists at the University of Maryland and the US Department of
Agriculture have identified a witch’s brew of pesticides and
fungicides contaminating pollen that bees collect to feed their hives.

<http://qz.com/107970/scientists-discover-whats-killing-the-bees-and-its-worse-than-you-thought/>

The pollen was contaminated on average with nine different pesticides
and fungicides though scientists discovered 21 agricultural chemicals
in one sample. Scientists identified eight ag chemicals associated
with increased risk of infection by the parasite.
“The pesticide issue in itself is much more complex than we have led
to be believe,” he says. “It’s a lot more complicated than just one
product, which means of course the solution does not lie in just
banning one class of product.”
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The problem now seems to be that modern agriculture requires a
chemical cocktail of pesticides and fungicides that mix in the pollen
to overwhelm the bees. If this is correct then going back to more
natural agriculture methods may be necessary to save the bees. But
that implies lower food production. Though without bees for
pollination that also implies lower food production.


BillK