Friends of the Earth Canada finds overwhelming support in southwestern Ontario for action to save bees from neonicotinoids.
A poll commissioned by Friends of the Earth Canada indicates very significant public concern about the use of bee-killing pesticides in plants from garden centres from large retailers.
“The use of bee-killing neonic pesticides in nursery plants is widespread,” says Beatrice Olivastri, CEO of Friends of the Earth Canada.
“But our polling shows that 76.8 per cent of people in Southwestern Ontario think gardeners should be able to buy plants that are neonic-free. A strong 73.2% of southwestern Ontario respondents think farmers should have the option to buy seeds not coated with neonic pesticides.”
The poll demonstrated that in southwestern Ontario:
– more than five out of 10 respondents are concerned with pesticides such as neonics contaminating soil and ground water sources in Ontario;
– more than seven out of ten (74.1%) are concerned about the wide spread killing of honey bees by the use of neonic pesticides in Ontario;
– more than seven out of ten respondents (73.2%) think farmers should have the option of being able to purchase seeds that are not coated with neonic pesticides; and
– almost eight out of 10 (76.8%) believe gardeners should be able to buy plants that are free of bee-poisoning neonicotinoids from garden centres.
Bees can be exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides via several routes: contact with contaminated dust during crop planting or from consuming pollen or nectar from the treated crop or from flowering plants.
Recently Friends of the Earth Canada released their testing on flowering plants from garden centres showing a widespread pattern of contamination of flowering plants expected to be “bee-friendly.”
“Clearly, southwestern Ontario residents are concerned about the impact of neonics pesticides. They want to take action in their own backyards and ensure farmers can protect bees,” says Olivastri.
“I read this poll as strong support for government action to ban neonics. But in the face of government inaction on the ban, people can insist on neonic-free garden plants and neonic-free crop seed. And, they can sign Friends of the Earth’s petition.”
The Oraclepoll Research survey was commission by Friends of the Earth and conducted between May 23 and 27.
A total of 1,000 people were surveyed with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%, 19/20 times.
