BAYER CROPSCIENCE CONTINUES TO DENY THAT CLOTHIANIDIN IS NOT KILLING OUR HONEY BEES, NEED YOUR HELP NOW

As we have detailed in a number of stories, a pesticide (clothianidin) produced by Bayer may be  responsible, at least in part, for the precipitous decline of the bee population in the last few years. The pesticide was approved on the basis of a study that the EPA knew to be faulty. There is little evidence supporting Bayer's claim that clothianidin is safe (and a growing stack of evidence that it isn't).

Bayer's response to all the negative press surrounding clothianidin: go into spin mode. But the company's recent blog post on clothianidin's safety is itself full of holes.

Take this sentence, for example: "Bayer CropScience was recently made aware of an unauthorized release from within the Environmental Protection Association (EPA) of a document regarding the seed treatment product, clothianidin, which is sold in the United States corn market." The document's release was not "unauthorized"; it was available through the Freedom of Information Act. It was forwarded to Colorado beekeeper Tom Theobald by an EPA employee, who first made Theobald aware of it. But that's almost beside the point.

Bayer also notes that its flawed study "was peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, and that the EPA initially called it "scientifically sound" and said it "satisfies the guideline requirements for a field toxicity test with honey bees."

Indeed, that was what the Agency said at first blush. But the recently unearthed document reveals the EPA's concern with the study. "Another field study is needed to evaluate the effects of clothianidin on bees through contaminated pollen and nectar," it says. In other words, the study doesn't satisfy guideline requirements for a core study on honey bee safety.

Bayer's response? "This was an incomplete document, something that they were working on," says Jack Boyne, Director of Communications at Bayer CropScience. "The study in question was a peer-reviewed, scientifically valid study."

Then there's this statement in the release: "Clothianidin is the leading seed treatment on corn in the United States and has been used extensively for over six years without incident to honey bees." That's disingenuous at best. Bayer has already admitted that the misapplication of clothianidin was responsible for killing two-thirds of beekeepers' bees in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany.

A Bayer press release from 2008 explains that "The bee die-offs which occurred in spring 2008 in Southwest Germany as the result of faulty application of the active ingredient clothianidin set off a controversial discussion on the use of pesticides for seed treatments." Bayer won't accept fault for the incident. Nevertheless, its own 2008 press release goes against its 2010 statement that clothianidin has been used without incident to honey bees. (Bayer responds that the statement was only meant to refer to clothianidin use in the U.S.)

A number of factors contributed to the disaster in Germany--a combination of strong winds, dryness in the area, and faulty seed coatings from a local seed treatment company are all responsible. "I don't think it will happen again. This is one of the leading products in corn as a seed treatment, and we have not seen this type of incident since," says Boyne.

But even if clothianidin is entirely safe if applied correctly--and we don't believe it is--Bayer can't guarantee that the pesticide will be used properly by growers. Should the fate of our bees--and a third of American agriculture--really rest in the hands of seed treatment companies and changeable weather conditions?

COMMENTARY:  If you have regularly followed my blog posts, you are aware that I posted a previous blog post (click to view) about Clothianidin on December 15, 2010.

Based on that article, I wrote to Bayer CropScience on December 20, 2010, and this is the response from Jack Boyne, Director of Communications:

Dear Mr. Toy, 

Thank you for your email and your questions about Clothianidin. 

Bayer CropScience recognizes the importance of honey bees and has an inherent interest in promoting their role as pollinators.  We share your concern for honey bee health and support efforts in finding remedies to bee maladies. 

Recent research has shown that multiple factors, including a combination of viral and fungal pathogens, are closely correlated with the recent declines seen in honey bee populations, known as Colony Collapse Disorder (http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0013181).  Despite some claims to the contrary you may have seen in the popular press, there are no studies that show that pesticides are responsible for this bee decline. 

Clothianidin is a member of the neonicotinoid class of chemistry and has been widely adopted as a pest management tool for agricultural uses, because of its low-dose performance against destructive insect pests and its favorable environmental profile.  Like many insecticides, clothianidin is toxic to honey bees, but may be used without impacting bee colonies when used according to label directions.  Moreover, clothianidin has been extensively studied in terms of bee safety assessment, including numerous laboratory and field research trials. 
. 
A long-term field study conducted by independent researchers and published in a major peer-reviewed scientific journal using clothianidin-treated seed showed that there was no effect on bee mortality, weight gain, worker longevity, brood development, honey yield and over-winter survival when compared to bees observed in untreated controls.  The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the EPA prior to its initiation and was later published in a major peer-reviewed scientific journal.   

Clothianidin is the leading seed treatment on corn in the United States and has been used extensively for over 6 years without incident to honey bees. 

Innovative seed treatment technology represents an environmentally sound approach to crop protection. Treating the seed provides a targeted and effective means of application that helps increase yields, safeguard our environment and ensure a sustainable means of crop production.   

A robust agricultural system depends on pollinators and crop protection products to meet the challenge of feeding a hungry world.  I hope you find the comments above to be helpful and if you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me. 


Sincerely,

Jack Boyne, Ph.D.
Director of Communications

PLEASE NOTE MY NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
_______________________
Bayer CropScience LP
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709
Phone: +1 919-549-2231
Fax: 919-549-2545
Email: [email protected]

Dear Ms Machamer and Mr. Coffey, 
 

I filled out your informational questionnaire, and it came back as undeliverable, so that needs to be fixed.   Here is the information that I provided.  I believe this is self-explanatory 

Sincerely, 

Tommy Toy 

From: [email protected]
First Name: Tommy
Last Name: Toy
Phone: 925-768-1805
Zip Code: 94520
Contact Preference: Email
Subscribe to Email: No
Question:

I have taken this action, because I am concerned that Bayer CropScience is acting recklessly by allowing Clothianidin to be used as a pesticide in the U.S. and other countries. There is now mounting evidence that Clothianidian, and other insecticides similar to it, is responsible for the mass extinction of America's and world's bee population, and possibly other insects as well. The entire U.S. agricultural food industry is jeopardy. Once the bees go, how can pollination take place. The farmer's and beekeepers beg you to take Clotianidian off the market NOW. I have also filed a formal complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency with regards to Clothianidian. I would like a confirmation of this complaint at your earliest convenience informing of the type of actions you are taking with regard to Clothianidian. 

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Here is a copy of my response to Mr. Boyne, sent out today:

Dear Mr. Boyne,

Thank you for your quick response.

Unfortunately, I remain unconvinced that Bayer CropScience has not done sufficient research into the longterm effects of Clothianidin on the environment, insects like the honey bee and other wild life.  

Germany, Italy and France were sufficiently concerned about the harmful effects of Clothianidin on their honey bee population that they took steps to have it banned.

You state in your email response that, "Like many insecticides, Clothianidin is toxic to honey bees, but may be used without impacting bee colonies when used according to label directions."  If this is the official opinion and position of Bayer CropScience, then Clothianidin presents a real danger to the U.S. honey bee, whether it is applied in accordance with label directions or not, and should be pulled from the market immediately.

It is inexcusable and reckless for Bayer CropScience to stretch the truth and justify the use of Clothianidin, by saying, " 

Recent research has shown that multiple factors, including a combination of viral and fungal pathogens, are closely correlated with the recent declines seen in honey bee populations, known as Colony Collapse Disorder."   If this is the case, then Bayer CropScience should pull Clothianidin from the market, to determine if the honey bee population continues to decline or improves.  

Please understand that my comments are not directed at you personally.  You are doing your job as V.P. of Corporate Communications, but the key executives of Bayer CropScience have both the legal and moral obligation to pull any product from the market if it is even slightly suspected of being harmful to the environment, wildlife or valuable insects like the honey bee. 

If your corporate executives knowingly knew or had inside knowledge or information that Clothianidin was causing harm to the environment, wildlife and valuable insects like the honey bee, not only will Bayer CropSciences by held accountable, but the company's executives may be personally liable to pay substantial penalties or fines and financial restitutions to all parties harmed by Clothianidin.

Again, thank you for your quick response.  My only hope is that you will bring this matter to the attention of all concerned.

Sincerely,

Tommy Toy

As you can see I did not mince words with Bayer CropScience, and this is just the beginning of my campaign to see that Clothianidin is taken off the market

Courtesy of an article dated December 17, 2010 appearing in Fast Company

 

Comments

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[Tommy]

Thanks everybody for your support. When you have the time, perhaps you could do what I have done and file a complaint with the EPA to bring this to their attention. Thanks again.

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