• panthera_@lemmy.today
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    4 days ago

    The law seems reasonable since the use of the pesticides is limited and only if there is no alternative. Bees can still feed on flowers in people’s yards and non-farmland.

        • T00l_shed@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          They will fly up to 5 km from their hives. Its not just the nearest food source, but also quantity. In many cases, most bees are in rural areas, as are many of the places where these pesticides will be sprayed

          • panthera_@lemmy.today
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            3 days ago

            France has no choice. From the article:

            The use of the pesticides, allowed in the EU but banned in France, will be authorised to combat aphid-borne diseases that can ruin crops of sugar beet, apples, hazelnuts and cherries, which has led producers to claim they can no longer compete with European rivals.

    • barooboodoo@lemmy.zip
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      4 days ago

      Christian Pons, the UNAF president, told reporters the law “claims to defend French food sovereignty, but since when is it acceptable to destroy one sector – that of beekeepers – in order to save another, for example that of hazelnut trees?”

      Also, how would bees feed on flowers when they’re poisoned, disoriented, and dying?

      • panthera_@lemmy.today
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        4 days ago

        But there is no choice. It’s either the farm sector or the bee sector. I think the farm sector is more important since it produces more food.

        I assume not all bee hives are located near farms.

          • panthera_@lemmy.today
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            3 days ago

            There are other pollinators besides bees. I’m sure government officials took that into consideration. Remember those pesticides aren’t banned in other European countries.

            • Techno-rat@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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              3 days ago

              im not so sure they consider the long term impact, cause they rarely if ever do that on ANY other issue

              look at the state of the environment! that is not a product of lawmakers taking the long term impact of their policies serious

              • panthera_@lemmy.today
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                2 days ago

                True but in the short-term French farmers have to compete against farmers from other EU countries, otherwise they might go out of business.

        • alsimoneau@lemmy.ca
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          4 days ago

          The bees pollinate the fields, allowing them to produce fruits, aka food. It’s not either or, it’s all linked man.

          • panthera_@lemmy.today
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            3 days ago

            There are other pollinators. Remember, other European countries permit the pesticides.