Oilseed rape growers could lose one of their most powerful weapons against pest and virus attack if fresh studies into the implications for bees prove valid. Crop revenues could tumble by E170m, leaving almost half of growers wondering if the crop isstill worth growing. At the heart of the debate lies the neonicotinoid group of seed treatment insecticides, primarily represented in the UK by Syngen-ta's thiamethoxam (in Cruiser) and Bayer's clothianidin (in Modesto). New studies suggest they could be contributing to, and may even have a primary role in, bee problems around the globe.
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