Public Meeting in Northfield on Neonicotinoid Pesticides in Honey

State Representative David Bly and experts from the Minnesota Department of Health and Department of Agriculture are holding a public meeting in Northfield Thursday.

The discussion will surround the presence of neonicotinoid pesticides, at neuroactive levels, found in honey.

The meeting is the result of a recent study that detected neonicotinoids in 75% of 198 honeys collected from producers around the world.

According to a News Release from Representative Bly's office, "experts from each state agency will discuss the study and agency plans to test and monitor Minnesota's honey for pesticide contamination."

The event is free and open to the public and will be held at Thursday, December 14 at 5:00 p.m. at Carleton College's Weitz Center for Creativity in the Larson Meeting Room #236, 320 3rd Street East in Northfield.

Expected to be in attendance are Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson and Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger and experts from their departments.

For more information you can contact Representative David Bly at rep.david.bly@house.mn.

According to a summary of the information contained in the October 6, 2017 issue of Science Magazine, Volume 358, Issue 6359, "there is widespread concern over the global loss of biodiversity."

"The decline in bee abundances is particularly alarming given their role in pollination;  bee losses are a major threat to human food security and ecosystem stability."

"These losses are associated with intensive land use, which exposes bees to pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids.  The latter may harm bees directly and/or exacerbate threats from other chemicals, imported parasites and diseases."

Neonicotinoid pesticides are applied globally.

Concern about their impacts has been increasing as evidence for negative effects on bee health has been gathered.

According to the study, "the neonicotinoid compounds occurred at levels considered safe for human consumption, but the contamination confirms the inundation of bees and their environments with these pesticides, despite some recent efforts to decrease their use."