PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK UK - Request for Information on Bee Poisonings

Pesticide Action Network is studying linkages between pesticide use, food security and trade liberalization in developing countries, particularly Africa. One of the areas we plan to look is at the impact of pesticides on agrobiodiversity: negative effects on beneficial insects are an obvious concern. African colleagues often tell is that increased pesticide use is harming bee populations, with direct costs to beekeepers.

If Bees for Development colleagues in the UK or Africa know of any concrete cases of pesticide impact on bee populations, particularly on smallholders' hive productivity, or can give their assessment of whether bee poisoning cases are increasing or decreasing in particular areas, we would be very interested. Please contact ( by December 2001) Stephanie Williamson at PAN UK.

Pesticide Problems

- The World Health Organization says that around three million people suffer from acute pesticide poising every year. More than 20,000 may die.

- Hundreds of different insects, weeds and diseases have become resistant to the very pesticides that were supposed to control them.

- One tablespoon of spilled pesticide concentrate could pollute the water supply of 200,000 people for a day.

Strategies for Change

- We support African partners in information and outreach on pesticides and alternatives.

- We work with groups in the worldwide Pesticide Action Network and others to raise awareness and influence policy.

- We research the issues to promote a better understanding of the impacts of pesticides.

If you would like to support our work, or subscribe to our journal Pesticides News, please look at our website www.pan-uk.org