This report reflects the work of the Neonicotinoids and Their Impact on Ecosystem Services for Agriculture and Biodiversity in Africa workshop, held from 14 – 16 November 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa, unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, when applied as a dressing to plant seeds, most of the active ingredient ends up in soil and water, increasing potential exposure to other non-target and non-insect species. Concerns about the impact on honey bee colonies grew in the 2000s and in Europe, the European Commission commissioned a review of the available scientific evidence on the effects of neonicotinoids by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Globally, it is estimated that 75% of crops traded on the world market and dependent to some extent on pollinators are worth €153 billion. This was published at the end of 2017, following which the EU decided to further restrict the use of the three most commonly used neonicotinoids. One of the six chapters of the review is devoted to the status and trends of pollinators, pollination and pollination networks on a global scale.
The scientific evidence to date provides a significant body of evidence on the widespread risks to non-target organisms and broader ecosystem services of the neonicotinoids in a range of applications and environments. Although much of the scientific literature comes from Europe, the United States of America (USA) and Canada, the findings can be applied to the agricultural systems of other countries.
15 November 2018
Background and Overview of the Science Reviewed by EASAC and IUCN’s WIA
- The EASAC Study and Findings
- The Scientific Findings of the IUCN Literature Reviews of the Effects of Systemic
- Immunity, Stress and Sub-lethal Effects of Neonicotinoids
- Regulatory Responses across the World
- Actions in the Philippines and Asia and Regulatory Responses across the World
- Overview of General Considerations Specific to Africa
Because of the different bees' social structure, the different pollinators have different buffering capacity for the effects of neonicotinoids and other adverse effects, so a focus entirely on honey bees does not adequately depict the effects of neonicotinoids on the larger pollinator fauna. However, considering the totality of the evidence, EASAC concluded that there is a growing body of evidence that the widespread prophylactic use of neonicotinoids has serious effects on non-target organisms that provide ecosystem services, including pollination and natural pest control. Another conclusion of the EASAC study was that the effects of neonicotinoids work in synergy with pathogens and other stressors.
Given that the plant takes up only 5% of the active ingredient in the seed coat, the balance between the risks and benefits of neonicotinoids clearly needed to be reassessed. The EASAC report received considerable international media coverage and was banned by the EU in 2018 following a review of the scientific evidence by the European Food Safety Agency. EASAC would now like to spread awareness of the problems associated with the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in Africa and initiate a collaborative program involving representatives from across Africa.
Jean-Marc Bonmartin (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France) introduced the scientific results of the IUCN literature reviews of the effects of systemic pesticides. The purpose of the WIA project was to assess risks and impacts on non-target species. The publication WIA of the Impact of Systemic Pesticides on Biodiversity and Ecosystems also shows alternatives to the prophylactic use of neonicotinoids, such as landscape design (spotted landscapes, border shrubs and crops, wet zones), farming methods (insurance coverage through mutual funds, crop rotation), use of resistant varieties, mixed varieties, interculture, ground cover), use of organisms (parasitoids, predators, fungi and bacteria) and other means (traps, repellents, elements, gender confusion, naturally derived insecticides, etc. ).
As a result, the use of pesticides containing one or more active ingredients of the neonicotinoid class, and the use of treated seeds with these ingredients, was banned in France from September 1, 2018. In order to avoid companies introducing similar pesticides in addition on the French market, another law prohibits the use of pesticides containing one or more active ingredients with modes of action similar to the neonicotinoid class, and of treated seeds with these products. Pest control using pesticides should be a final and highly targeted intervention, taking into account the type of pest, the economics of applying the pesticide and the effectiveness of the pesticide chosen.
Maarten Biljeveld van Lexmond (IUCN) presented the developments leading to the establishment of the TFSP. This led to the complaint of Notre Dame de Londres and the establishment of the TFSP in 2009. Local conditions must be taken into account and acceptable to beekeepers, as must the use of bee services (pollination, honey production, medicine).
Current Situation in Africa and Current Activities
- Benin
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Egypt
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Summary of the Day’s Proceedings
Farmers' knowledge of the potential impact of the pesticide 'Neonys' on insect health was generally good, but there is still much room for further education. As the old chemicals are banned, the use of neonicotinoids will increase, so research on the impact of neonicotinoids on ecosystems in Africa will be critical. BUAN has recently proposed work on the role of beekeeping as a source of livelihood and bees as ecosystem providers, including stingless bees, and studies on the impact of neonicotinoids and other pesticides will also begin.
This report lists the active ingredient, limitations (target organisms), and registered formulations of the active ingredient. Many risks are associated with the use of neonicotinoids without any special control of their negative impact on the environment. Companies import pre-formulated bulk or packaged products as well as active ingredients used in pesticide production.
Numerous international companies are involved in Côte d'Ivoire's pesticide markets and have significant market shares, but there is no investment in stewardship or regulation. The main problems related to pesticides in Côte d'Ivoire are the spread of fraudulent pesticides on the local market (about 40% according to the actors), non-compliance with labeling standards and product packaging materials for products by illegal companies, and the risk of pollution and destruction of the environment due to the improper or uncontrolled use of pesticides. ICIPE works in almost all African countries in the context of various African and international agreements, such as the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, Feeding Africa, and COP21 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A survey published as Farmers' Knowledge and Perception of Grain Pest Pest and Their Management in the Eastern Province of Kenya showed that farmers strongly prefer the most toxic chemicals for pest control. About 89% of farmers have generally received no extension services on pest management, and farmers face significant labor costs in applying pesticides. A recent paper entitled Relationship between New Farming Practices and Chemical Use and the Consumption of the Giant Cricket showed significant rare failure of this insect, which is eaten by humans, due to pesticides, identifies a need for training and surveillance regarding the trade in pesticides in the region, and suggests further investigations into pesticide residues or traces in giant crickets collected for human consumption.
Total trade restriction (e.g. USA bans some horticultural crops from Africa due to Bactrocera fruit fly infection), export refusal at port of entry or restriction/refusal due to strict residue limits (e.g. EU) results in loss of export markets, income, jobs and poor nutrition in African producing countries. This means that pesticides that are restricted or banned in the country of origin cannot be registered in Tanzania. It is very useful to know the status of regulations in different countries, also the level of penetration of different neonicotinoids in different countries (codification, inventory).
16 November 2018
- Sudan
- Breakaway Discussions and Feedback
- Next steps
- Discussion of Next Steps: Formation of a Plan for Future Actions
- Closing and Vote of Thanks
- Appendix A – Online Presentations
- Appendix B: Questionnaire
- Appendix C: List of Participants
The diversity of the continent indicates that regulations should remain country-specific, but be a matter for the entire continent. ASSAf: Contact New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), an agency of the AU, and discuss how to fast-track this project to African policymakers. There is quite a lot of data on different subspecies of bees, and on 'killer bees' in the Americas (which originated in South Africa), so data can be transferable – use existing data to make a point about Africa more quickly rather than recommend long-term research programs.
Honeybees are not the only pollinators, so it is important to educate farmers in the identification of honeybees and other bees and explain that they are not pests. Mike Norton outlined the next steps of this project, including drafting a report based on workshop discussions and input by March 2019, electronic consultation with workshop participants (and possibly additional experts nominated by NASAC member academies), a second meeting of the working group in Nairobi, and a completed report with policy recommendations in mid-2019. NASAC was consulted in the lead-up to this workshop, but has not yet engaged in the project (there was limited time available for workshop organization) .
Perhaps a phased approach would work best, involving contacts with politicians before/during/after the release of the report and then taking it from there. Mike Norton outlined the EASAC process for working group work and subsequent approvals, a similar structure with NASAC is envisioned for this project. Thanks go to the ASSAf staff, especially Khutso Phalane-Legoale, for making this workshop happen at very short notice and for their interest in science.
Summary of the EASAC work on ecosystem services, agriculture and neonicotinoids (Prof Mike Norton) Presentation 1. Scientific findings of the IUCN reviews of systemic pesticide effects (Dr Jean-Marc Bonmatin) Presentation 2. Information sharing session on the status of neonicotinoid registration and use across Africa by some of the 30 expert representatives brought together from around 12 African countries.
Kamerun - babaen ni Leonard Ngamo Tinkeu, Unibersidad ti Ngaoundéré Cote d'Ivoire - babaen ni Akpa Akpesse, Unibersidad Felix Houphouët-Boigny Egipto - babaen ni Youssef Dewer, Sentral a Laboratorio dagiti Pestisidio ti Agrikultura. Kenya – babaen ni Saliou Niassey, Internasional a Sentro para iti Pisiolohia ti Insekto ken Ekolohia Abagatan nga Aprika – babaen ni Christian Pirk, Unibersidad ti Pretoria. Sudan – babaen ni Nabil Hamed Hassan Bashir, Unibersidad ti Gezira Wad Medina Tanzania – babaen ni Mkabwa Katambo, Unibersidad ti Dar es Salaam.
