Have you heard of
"systemic pesticides"? They are in the neonicotinoid family of pesticides, the
ones that are implicated in the bee colony collapse. They work by incorporating
themselves into the plant’s tissues, turning the plant itself into a tiny poison
factory emitting toxin from its roots, leaves, stems, pollen, and nectar. And
they persist in the soil for longer than the older generation pesticides.
Now the really shocking part of this pesticide, is that some of the seeds
we buy may already contain this pesticide. This means we may be growing and
eating food that contains this poison without realizing it. And because the
poisons are right through the plant's tissues, they cannot be washed off. The
good news is that treated seeds are dyed a distinct colour. Certified organic
seeds do not contain systemic pesticides.
France has banned systemic pesticides after French beekeepers complained of
massive losses of bee hives in the mid 1990s. Since then, many other countries
and regions of the world are banning or trying to ban them. Some non-organic
sunflower seeds, bean seeds, and other popular food seeds have been treated with
systemic pesticides in order to protect the seeds from rotting as bean seeds do
when planted in soil that is too cold, or to protect sunflowers from seed
weevils.
While we may find it a little more difficult to grow perfect sunflowers and
beans from seeds that are pesticide free, we at least can be sure that the
resulting plants will be worth eating and that we are not poisoning the bees and
other pollinators in the process.
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