I’ve been stung by a bee before, and like many people, that experience can make it difficult to sympathize with these misunderstood insects. However, most people are unaware of just how essential bees truly are. Bees are responsible for pollinating roughly 75% of the crops we grow and 99% of wildflowers in nature. They provide enormous benefits to both natural ecosystems and our food systems, and without them, access to many of the foods we enjoy every day would be severely limited.
Here’s the problem: one in four bee species is currently at risk of extinction. A major contributor to this decline is the use of neonicotinoids, or “neonics,” a class of pesticides that is highly toxic to pollinators. These chemicals persist in plants, soil, and water, causing long-term harm to bee populations even when applied in small amounts.
We are urging Gov. Maura Healey to take action by banning neonicotinoids in Massachusetts to protect these vital pollinators from further harm. In 2021, the spray version of neonics was banned, but we are pushing for the standard use of these pesticides to be banned as well.
Cole Hartford, UMass senior and intern with MASSPIRG’s Save the Bees campaign
Amherst