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The main focus of the meeting was on neonicotinoids, a specific class of insecticides called ‘neonics’ for short.
In the past decade, researchers worldwide have studied the effects of neonics on pollinators after beekeepers reported suspicions that the products were harming honeybees and hives.
Parrella says there’s no doubt that neonics and pollinator health is controversial because there’s people lined up on the side of science, and others concerned about politics “and people are passionate on both sides.”
He said the university is working to produce science-based information so that California lawmakers can “make the best policy decisions.”
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DPR’s Leahy emphasized that his agency currently works with county agricultural commissioners, producers, beekeepers, and others to develop and implement regulatory ways along with voluntary methods to help protect bees.
He noted the obvious importance of maintaining good pollinator health since California is the largest agricultural state in the nation with roughly 400 crops which are specialty crops that create great protection challenges.
Leahy mentioned that DPR is focused on more “benign chemistry that is target specific,” and the process involves searching for new and unique approaches in dealing with the bee problem.
