Response to Lu Study on Neonicotinoids and Honey Bees
May 11, 2014
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (May 12, 2014) – Bayer scientists have reviewed the study and, in their opinion, find it to be seriously flawed for the following reasons:
- Feeding honey bees levels of neonicotinoids greater than 10 times what they would normally encounter is more than unrealistic – it is deceptive and represents a disservice to genuine scientific investigation related to honey bee health.
- Given the artificially high levels tested over 13 consecutive weeks, the colony failure rates observed are completely expected.
- Unfortunately, this latest study conducted by Dr. Lu repeats the fundamental flaws seen in his previous research and provides no meaningful information regarding honey bee risk assessment.
Bayer remains committed to understanding the multi-causes that impact the health of pollinators by bringing together some of the brightest minds in agriculture and apiology to develop comprehensive solutions for bee health through its North American Bee Care Center which is part of the company’s $12 million investment in bee health in 2014.
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Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care,
agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,819 million (2013) and is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 22,400 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.
Contact:
Bayer CropScience Media Hotline, 1-877-879-6162, or
Beth Roden
Head of Communications & Bayer CropScience NA Coordinator
Bayer CropScience
Tel: (919) 549-2030
Email: beth.roden@bayer.com
USA-BCS-2014-0110
Find more information at www.bayercropscience.us.
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