The Slow Food USA Blog

The EPA received our bees, here’s their response.

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Earlier this year, tens of thousands of Slow Food supporters came together to demand that the EPA keep its promise to investigate the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder. Their actions helped make a buzz about the devastating future that lies ahead if we don’t act now to save the bees that bring us one in every four bites of our food. They invited friends to sign a petition supported by a “swarm” of hundreds of handmade bees (see left), each representing 100 bee petition signatures. They shared the fact sheet we created about bees and food. And dozens organized screenings of the documentary “Vanishing of the Bees” in libraries and living rooms all around the country. We called for immediate action on a kind of pesticide that scientists believe is contributing to massive honeybee die-offs — and today we heard the EPA’s response. According to a spokesperson from the Office of Pesticide Programs:

“EPA takes seriously its responsibilities to protect the environment, including pollinators, from potential effects of pesticides. Our longstanding regulatory requirements for pesticides are designed to protect beneficial insects, such as bees,” said a representative from the Office of Pesticide programs. “Since 2007, we have been looking at many different ways of improving pollinator protection. EPA continues to advance its regulatory and scientific approaches to ensure honey bees and other pollinators are protected, and if scientific information shows a particular pesticide is posing unreasonable risk to pollinators, we stand ready to take the necessary regulatory action.”

While we appreciate that the EPA is taking what it deems to be appropriate action, scientists agree that Colony Collapse Disorder is still worsening and that its causes are still unclear. The response to this campaign proved that people across the country are concerned and prepared to act in defense of our food system. And, as the evidence in support of CCD continues to mount, the EPA will be forced to take action. We will continue to keep the pressure on the EPA to take appropriate steps to safeguard our food, but we need your help.

Campaigns like this are only made possible through the support of our members. Want to become a member? click here.