Health Canada points to safety and value of neonics

Two reports from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) provide some very important perspective on the hotly debated topic of a certain type of pesticide – neonicotinoids.

The PMRA released two draft reports – an interim re-evaluation of a specific neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, and a value assessment of all neonicotinoid seed treatments for corn and soybeans. The major takeaway from these two reports: the concerns regarding the impact of neonics on bees have been significantly overstated and these tools provide real value for Canadian farmers.

Over the last several years neonics have been the subject of intense scrutiny from media, activists and some governments. While many have tried to associate bee health challenges with farmers’ use of neonics, it’s becoming increasingly clear that neonics are important tools for farmers and can be used safely without compromising bee health.

PMRA’s re-evaluation of imidacloprid, which was done in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, specifically reveals that this neonic does not pose a risk to bees when used as a seed treatment. This is in stark contrast to the claims by some groups that neonic seed treatments are devastating bee populations. In fact, the government of Ontario has justified its restrictions on farmers’ use of neonic seed treatments by pointing to bee health protection as the rationale.

If we look at the most recent reports from PMRA in conjunction with the latest Statistics Canada numbers on the national beekeeping industry, which show that colony numbers in Canada are at a new high, we’ve got a pretty positive story to tell about Canadian agriculture.

While this story might not fit the headline grabbing anti-agriculture rhetoric that has swept some parts of the country, it’s the real story of Canadian agriculture. Our farmers are safely and responsibly using innovations like neonics to sustainably produce food for Canadians and those around the world.

I wonder what the Ontario government will choose to do in the wake of this new information from the federal pesticide regulator. Will they have the courage to change their course on neonic regulations in the province to ensure their policies are based on sound scientific evidence? We hope so and we think farmers deserve this.

This latest scientific information now needs to be considered by the Quebec government as it embarks on its regulatory process to ensure that policies are not disadvantaging farmers while providing no benefit to pollinator health.

The draft value assessment from PMRA clearly states that these tools provide real value for farmers. Neonic seed treatments protect crops from potentially devastating insect damage and while pest pressures vary from region to region, the PMRA has confirmed that neonic seed treatments are critical to crop production and that they provide substantial economic benefits to Canadian corn and soybean growers.

What is often overlooked in the conversations around seed treatments is the benefits they offer beyond improving yield. Seed treatments help farmers do their jobs in a more environmentally sustainable way through the adoption of practices such as minimal and no-till agriculture systems, which help to improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While these benefits can be difficult to quantify, they are critically important as farmers work to grow more crops to feed a growing population all while protecting the environment.

I’m hopeful that in 2016 politics will be put aside and we can focus on the science-based decision making that has long made Canadian agriculture such an important player on the world stage.

Pierre Petelle,
Vice-president of chemistry, CropLife Canada